Hanafin and Fianna Fáil stand-off ‘farcical’

The extraordinary stand-off between ex-cabinet minister Mary Hanafin and Fianna Fáil high command has provoked deep unease among the party’s TDs.

The situation, which one TD branded “farcical”, is set to dominate a meeting today between leader Micheál Martin and his front bench.

With ex-education minister Ms Hanafin looking set to ignore pleas from the party’s top brass to withdraw as a candidate in council elections, the row is set to draw attention from Fianna Fáil’s campaign push.

The situation arose after Ms Hanafin was approached by party chiefs last week to stand in the Blackrock area of Dublin as Fianna Fáil claimed polling showed it could take two seats there.

But after existing candidate Katie Feeney objected, the invitation to Ms Hanafin was withdrawn on Friday, party chiefs say.

However, Ms Hanafin lodged her nomination papers as a Fianna Fáil candidate and appears to be resisting party pressure to withdraw by today’s official deadline.

An FF source accused the party hierarchy of a “blunder”, saying polling actually showed holding one seat was unlikely and that Ms Hanafin was drafted in to try and boost the campaign.

The spat puts more pressure on Mr Martin following a whispering campaign against his leadership. A regaining of Fianna Fáil’s “urban footprint” in Dublin and other cities in the May 23 local and Euro elections is being talked off as crucial to sustaining his authority.

Ms Hanafin branded the party’s poll standing in Dublin as “brutal” in comments seen as a swipe at the leadership.