Kenny hails Forde defection as major coup

LEADING councillor Deirdre Forde’s desertion of Fianna Fáil was yesterday hailed as a major coup for the opposition by Enda Kenny.

The Fine Gael leader welcomed into his party the former chairperson of FF’s National Councillors’ Forum on the steps of Leinster House.

Ms Forde denied her decision to switch sides was prompted by the parachuting into her electoral area of Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin’s twin brother, Padraig.