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.

Speaking on RTÉ radio, Mr Burke said he had met with a “contact” of Mr Fitzmaurice before speaking directly with the recently- elected Roscommon-South Leitrim TD last Monday.

A further face-to-face meeting between the duo is planned for Wednesday at the Mansion House in Dublin city centre, with Mr Burke confirming he is actively considering running as an alliance candidate.

When asked what the chances are of him running again for a Dáil seat Mr Burke said he was “90%” in favour.

He has failed to win on seven occasions in the past in Dublin Central, an area which previously contained then-Fianna Fáil taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the late independent TD Tony Gregory.

While noting he may be “mad” and isn’t “getting any younger”, Mr Burke said his officials believe “now is your time, go for it”.

The mooted move will lend further credence to the independent alliance being formed, with Mr Fitzmaurice last week confirming that he will merge with Shane Ross and Finian McGrath’s rival group.

However, speaking to this newspaper Mr Naughten said despite his name being “bandied” about, he has not as yet joined.

“I want to be crystal clear. I haven’t spoken to Ross since Christmas and not to Fitzmaurice at all,” he said.

The move comes as another rival grouping, Independent TD Lucinda Creighton’s still-unnamed “reboot” party, claimed to have more than 2,000 members since launching at the start of the year.

The planned party is due to formally begin in seven weeks, with reports that it needs a €1m war-chest.

Meanwhile, Mr Burke said Taoiseach Enda Kenny was a “broken man” after spending a night with the Dublin inner city homeless group — which the lord mayor is involved in — before Christmas.

The independent councillor, who has revealed that when he was addicted to alcohol he too was homeless, said: “There were two women, rats running around them.

“I could see this guy, the Taoiseach, breaking. From that moment on I saw an emotional man, a broken man.”