Brady and Fitzpatrick join FF on ballot paper

Two candidates were tonight chosen to accompany Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the ballot paper for the next general election.

At a convention in the constituency of Dublin Central, Fianna Fáil chose Senator Cyprian Brady and Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick, a daughter of sitting Fianna Fáil TD Dr Dermot Fitzpatrick, to contest the next election alongside Mr Ahern.

There was no vote at the 40-minute convention in Dublin’s Drumcondra as two other contenders, Cllr Tom Stafford and Chris Wall, withdrew their names.

The party is expected to face a strong challenge to secure its second seat from Sinn Féin’s candidate, MEP Mary Lou McDonald.