FF and FG bring out the big guns for by-election shoot-out

FIANNA FÁIL was sending one of its ministers. Fine Gael was sending its entire front bench. Navan doesn’t usually command such attention.

Yesterday, however, was a different story: there’s a by-election in Meath in seven days’ time. The seat vacated by John Bruton is up for grabs, and the various parties are unleashing their heavy artillery as they enter the last week of the campaign.

So, Enterprise Minister Mícheál Martin was scheduled to arrive in Navan at 3pm to lend a hand on the canvassing trail to Fianna Fáil candidate Shane Cassells, who, by common consensus, is second favourite for the seat.