Martin casts aside friendship and party loyalty

MICHEÁL MARTIN cast aside friendship and a lifetime of party loyalty to announce he no longer had confidence in Taoiseach Brian Cowen to lead Fianna Fáil.

When Mr Cowen tables a motion of confidence in his leadership at tomorrow’s parliamentary party meeting Mr Martin said he will be campaigning to defeat it.

He said he had been lobbied by senior figures within Fianna Fáil to make a move on Mr Cowen because the party may not survive an election fought under the Taoiseach.