Fianna Fáil pick Roscommon South Leitrim candidates

Dáil Deputies John Ellis and Michael Finneran were chosen tonight as Fianna Fáil candidates to run for seats in the Roscommon South Leitrim constituency in the next election.

The pair were picked by 369 local Fianna Fáil delegates who voted at a selection convention in Carrick-on-Shannon.

At the close of nominations on Monday Sligo Leitrim TD John Ellis was the only nominee for South Leitrim, and so was selected as the candidate for the area.

For Roscommon, selectors chose the sitting TD for Longford Roscommon Michael Finneran over the other three candidates nominated: John Cummins, Rachel Doherty and Eugene Murphy.

Mr Finneran was expected to gain the nomination having returned more than 6,500 first preferences in the last election. He is vice chairman of the Dáil Committee on Finance and Public Services and was previously a Senator.

He was selected after gaining 166 votes in the first round and 189 votes in the second round of voting tonight.

Boyle councillor Rachel Doherty, the youngest of the candidates and daughter of former Justice Minister Sean Doherty who died earlier this year, came second in the poll.

Strokestown councillor and local radio DJ Eugene Murphy, who ran in the last election, and Boyle councillor John Cummins came third and fourth in tonight’s vote.

A spokesman said Fianna Fáil would be putting forward two candidates for the three-seat constituency as the party felt it would be the best way of maximising the vote.