Crowley critical of presidential election decision

Fianna Fáil MEP Brian Crowley has publicly criticised the party’s decision not to run him as its candidate in the presidential election — saying he could have got votes from across party lines.

In an interview in a Sunday newspaper, his first in a year, the Ireland South MEP said the decision played into the hands of Sinn Féin, which received “a huge boost” from which it is still benefiting.

“If you want to be a serious political party, you have to fight elections,” he said. “You have to present yourself to the public and show what you are about.”