Áine Collins shock as Fine Gael woo John Paul O’Shea

An internal war has broken out in Fine Gael over election selection for Cork North West, with former TD Áine Collins declaring she feels “betrayed” by a party decision to woo an independent politician onto the ticket.

Fine Gael consider regaining a second seat in the three-seater as crucial in its “trench warfare” with Fianna Fáil if it is to regain lost positions in Munster and ultimately succeed in the next general election.

Local businesswoman and former TD Ms Collins told the Irish Examiner, however, that she felt “betrayed” and “shocked” by Fine Gael’s decision to try and get Independent councillor John Paul O’Shea on board for the party’s election hopes.