Bruton’s seat in danger of going to FF

FINE Gael appears in danger of losing the Dáil seat which former leader John Bruton held for 35 years in Meath, a new opinion poll has indicated.

If the poll findings are realised, it would be a disastrous result for leader Enda Kenny, undermining the progress he has made in rebuilding the party.

The new holder of the seat, vacated by Mr Bruton when he became the EU’s ambassador to the US, will be decided in a by-election on Friday. Bookmakers had made Fine Gael’s Cllr Shane McEntee a narrow favourite ahead of Fianna Fáil Cllr Shane Cassells.