Surprise for FG as Allen beaten into second place

THE Fine Gael General Election selection convention for Cork North Central constituency threw up a major surprise when the party’s standard bearer, Bernard Allen, was beaten into second place.

It is understood that Pat Burton, who was only elected as a county councillor last year, topped the poll of delegates with 95 votes, 10 ahead of Mr Allen.

Former MEP Colm Burke is believed to have received 55 votes, while former lord mayor of Cork Cllr Dara Murphy received 35 votes.

The upshot of the selection convention, which was held on Monday night at the Moran Silver Springs Hotel, is that Pat Burton and Bernard Allen will contest the election.

However, Fine Gael party headquarters has reserved the right to add a third person to the ticket if it deems it necessary.

Party sources have indicated that it came as quite a surprise to see Mr Allen beaten into second place at the selection convention.

In the last general election in 2007, he was the second person to be elected behind FF’s Billy Kelleher.

Mr Burton said he was “absolutely delighted” with the number of votes he acquired at the convention.

“I must say I really appreciate that so many people came out and voted for me. They were risking life and limb to vote because the weather conditions were atrocious that night,” Mr Burton said.

The 55-year-old founder of auctioneering firm Burton Crowley & O’Flynn, said he was looking forward to contesting a Dáil seat and predicted that Fianna Fáil could be in serious trouble in the Cork North Central constituency.

He said it was possible that both sitting FF TDs Billy Kelleher and Noel O’Flynn could find themselves ousted by the electorate.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael is preparing to hold its selection convention for the Cork East constituency on Sunday at the Fir Grove Hotel, Mitchelstown.

For the first time since 1989, Senator Paul Bradford will not be seeking a place on the ticket.

Three county councillors, Tom Barry, Noel O’Connor and Patrick O’Driscoll, are seeking to replace him on the northern end of the constituency.

On the southern side it will be a two horse race between sitting TD David Stanton and Cllr Michael Hegarty.