Murphy under fire over election literature ‘error’

A FINE Gael candidate who sent election literature into an area of his constituency earmarked for a party colleague was under fire last night from senior party members.

Cllr Dara Murphy, one of two Fine Gael candidates running for election in Cork North Central, sent a letter to voters in the parish of Mourne Abbey, an area earmarked for fellow candidate Cllr Pat Burton, calling for their number 1.

The letter, signed by FG Senator Paul Bradford, recommended voters in Mourne Abbey give Mr Murphy their first preference. In fact, the party had already agreed Mourne Abbey was Burton territory and Mr Bradford had already endorsed Mr Burton in the area and asked parishioners to give him their first preference.