Garret FitzGerald calls on voters to back FF’s Ryan

FORMER Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald made a dramatic intervention in the European elections yesterday when calling on party supporters to back Fianna Fáil’s Eoin Ryan ahead of Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald in the race for the last seat in Dublin.

Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell and Labour MEP Proinsias de Rossa are set to retain their seats in the constituency, leaving fellow MEPs Mr Ryan and Ms McDonald and Socialist Party candidate Joe Higgins in a battle for the final slot.

Mr FitzGerald said Fine Gael supporters should give their second preferences to “pro-Lisbon” candidates because of the importance of the treaty to Ireland’s interests.