FG close to poaching top Labour councillor

Fine Gael are close to poaching a leading Cork councillor who yesterday resigned from the Labour party in frustration at being prevented from running in the general election. Fermoy-based Cllr Noel McCarthy last night told the Irish Examiner he was considering his options after leaving Labour.

Mr McCarthy’s move to Fine Gael would lead to him being one of the party’s three candidates in the four-seater constituency, alongside outgoing party TDs Tom Barry and David Stanton.

Cllr McCarthy secured one of the highest votes for Labour in the local elections, securing some 3,511 votes. His defection leaves just one Labour councillor in Cork county.