Burke considers running as alliance candidate

Dublin lord mayor Christy Burke is considering running as a Dáil candidate for the mooted Independents alliance headed up by Finian McGrath, Shane Ross and Michael Fitzmaurice.

The ex-Sinn Féin member, who is now an independent councillor and homelessness campaigner, confirmed the move in a wide-ranging interview in which he revealed he too was homeless in September 1979 when addicted to alcohol.

However, despite the development, the planned alliance has suffered a blow after independent TD and ex-Fine Gael member Denis Naughten — whose name has been included in lists of potential candidates — distanced himself from the move.