Coulter to decide on election

Phil Coulter will decide this weekend whether to throw his musical hat into the ring and run as a surprise candidate in the general election.

Speaking from Dublin, Coulter confirmed yesterday that he is seriously considering standing as an independent in the Donegal North-East constituency. If it does, his primary aim is to highlight a physical threat to Lough Swilly and its environs - the lake he loves so well.

He said he was approached and asked to stand to highlight mounting concern over the granting of aquaculture licences on what seemed to be "a pretty willy-nilly basis" in the Lough Swilly area.

"If I do commit to go into the fight, I would go into the fight to win", he declared.