High-profile councillor set to defect

A HIGH-PROFILE Fianna Fáil councillor is expected to defect to Fine Gael within days.

Against the backdrop of disastrous poll results, outspoken Cork-based county councillor Deirdre Forde is jumping ship following a row over the parachuting in of the Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin’s twin brother to contest the June local elections in her area.

The chairperson of the National Fianna Fáil Councillors’ Forum spoke out in January after Mr Martin’s twin, Padraig, was selected to contest a council seat in the Carrigaline electoral area.