Kenny didn’t contact sacked rebels

FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny has bluntly admitted he never bothered to contact four of his internal opponents to tell them they would not be re-appointed to the party front bench.

Mr Kenny announced his new shadow cabinet and found a place for Richard Bruton, who had been sacked last month after launching an ultimately unsuccessful heave against the leader.

Mr Kenny also restored four senior figures who had backed Mr Bruton – Simon Coveney, Fergus O’Dowd, Charlie Flanagan and Leo Varadkar.