Longford Fianna Fáil row over candidate selection

Longford Fianna Fáil members have taken a last minute decision not to nominate their preferred election candidate.

Party members gathered last night to vote on their own candidate after a diktat from headquarters denied them a vote by ruling the only female running be automatically selected.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said regardless of local members’ views, the candidates for Longford-Westmeath have already been decided and no

changes will be made.

Longford constituents will now wait until later in the month to hear back from HQ before they take further action.

Members had gathered last night to choose their preferred candidate after a diktat from the party’s executive committee sparked anger when it prevented them from voting at the original

convention.

The automatic selection of Connie Gerety-Quinn in October initiated a row between headquarters and local constituency members.

Mr Martin said he understands concerns from some members who are threatening to split the party in the area over the decision to select Ms Gerety-Quinn, but insisted she is “a very strong candidate” and that “there are national issues” that have to be considered.

The two male candidates — Seamus Butler and Pat O’Rourke — were also at odds ahead of the meeting last night.

Mr Butler claimed the meeting was a “kangaroo convention” and said he was against it going ahead, while Mr O’Rourke said the meeting would allow democracy to prevail.

Ms Gerety-Quinn, who has already been placed on the ticket in the Longford/Westmeath constituency to meet the gender quota, did not respond to the Irish Examiner last night.

Longford Comhairle Dáil Ceantair PRO Denise O’Flaherty said the meeting was organised to give members a chance to vote.