FF rift opens as Crowley opts out of Áras race

DIVISIONS have deepened in Fianna Fáil over Micheál Martin’s handling of its presidential election strategy after Brian Crowley announced he is no longer seeking the nomination.

The Ireland South MEP pulled out of the race yesterday with an attack on the party leadership which had opposed his candidacy.

He said he did not “feel free” to seek a nomination after the leadership publicly stated an internal candidate should not be chosen.

And Mr Crowley said the dignity of the office of president risked being damaged by “political in-fighting and half-hearted efforts”.

A handful of party members expressed their anger at how the issue was handled by Mr Martin, who they said allowed divisions to develop in the party on the topic.

But TDs who were in favour of the leader’s stance said Mr Crowley’s decision “changes nothing” because he was never going to be the party’s candidate.

A special committee to decide the presidential strategy will meet on Monday, while a meeting of the parliamentary party will take place next Wednesday.

Mr Martin was informed of Mr Crowley’s decision shortly before he issued a statement yesterday evening.

The MEP said it was a “mistake” not to run a candidate “for the future relevance of the party” and believes he could have won it. He said he respected that Mr Martin had a decision to make as party leader but added: “I believe you should be listening to what the ordinary members are saying, what the grassroots are saying.”

Mr Martin’s constituency colleague, Michael McGrath, said he was disappointed by the announcement. He accepted Mr Crowley’s view that there were divisions in the party on the issue, but said “there is no question about the leadership or anything like that”.

West Cork-based senator Denis O’Donovan said it was a loss for Munster. “It was a mistake to have let this drag on,” he said. “This should have been tidied up six to eight weeks ago, as it has been divisive for the party.

“A lot of us were caught by surprise by the whole Gay Byrne thing,” he added, referring to Mr Martin’s pledging his party’s support to the broadcaster, who has since pulled out of the race.