Cowen's brother 'privileged' to be on FF ticket

Barry Cowen, brother of outgoing Taoiseach Brian Cowen, has said he feels both proud and privileged to be selected to contest the forthcoming general election.

Barry Cowen was picked to run for Fianna Fáil in the Laois-Offaly constituency at a convention in Tullamore last night.

It had been widely speculated that the party would only choose two candidates but John Moloney and Sean Fleming were also selected.

It comes just one day after Brian Cowen announced that he would not be running in the election.