Former independent to fight by-election for Labour

INDEPENDENT Meath Councillor Dominic Hannigan has joined the Labour Party and is expected to seek a nomination to contest March’s by-election.

Mr Hannigan, an engineer and planner, took 900 first preference votes in June’s local elections in the Slane electoral area.

Mr Hannigan, whose application was unanimously endorsed at a meeting of the Labour Party’s Meath Constituency Council last week, said he was always close to Labour’s policies.

“I regard this as a very positive move, not just for me, but for the people I represent... and I believe that this move will enable me to better represent the interests of the people of my area,” he said.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte welcomed the move saying it was a vote of confidence in the party at national and local level.

It had initially been expected that former ICTU general secretary Peter Cassells would be Labour’s favoured candidate. However Mr Cassells declined requests to enter the fray.

Meath, a five-seat constituency, will be split into two three-seaters at the next General Election, leaving the by-election winner to choose between the two new constituencies.

A Fianna Fáil approach to former Meath footballer Colm O’Rourke has been suggested although Meath County Council chairman and Noel Dempsey’s right hand man, Tony Reilly, may also seek the nomination.

Former Fine Gael TD John Farrelly is a possible Fine Gael contender, as is newly-elected Cllr Charles Bobbett and Shane McEntee, brother of Meath footballer Gerry McEntee.