Sherlock had ‘no issue’ with McCarthy standing for Labour

Minister of state Seán Sherlock has insisted he never stood in the way of a now former Labour Party county councillor becoming his running mate on the general election ticket.

The Cork East TD made his comments in the wake of claims by Cllr Noel McCarthy that he defected to Fine Gael as he was not going to get the opportunity to put himself forward as a Dáil candidate with Labour.

Mr Sherlock said he had been “quite relaxed” by the prospect of Cllr McCarthy being his running mate and that the councillor had two opportunities to put his name forward as a candidate, but declined both times.