Fianna Fáil to stay out of race for presidency

PLEAS by Eamon Ó Cuív for Fianna Fáil to back a presidential candidate were shot down as a special committee agreed the party should not enter the race for the Áras.

Party leader Micheál Martin and his colleagues last night ruled out running a candidate, after agreeing that public anger with Fianna Fáil would see any nominee punished by voters.

The 90-minute closed-door meeting at Leinster House was described by one source as cordial, with “no banging of tables”.