FF choose Meath candidates

A minister and a sitting TD were tonight chosen as Fianna Fáil’s two candidates to contest the next election for the Meath West region.

Communications minister Noel Dempsey and Johnny Brady TD were automatically selected as the Government coalition party’s two candidates after Councillor Shane Cassells withdrew his nomination at the last-minute.

The two sitting Fianna Fáil TDs will now go forward to contest the three-seater constituency of Meath West.

Mr Cassells said Fianna Fáil had a strong team in Mr Dempsey and Mr Brady to contest the elections.

However, the 26-year-old Fianna Fáil councillor vowed he would be back to bid for a government seat in the future.

A Fianna Fáil spokesman said: “The two person team was believed to be the most effective way to maximise the vote.”