Dana's Presidential candidacy unclear after dramatic statement

It remains unclear this evening whether Dana Rosemary Scallon will withdraw from the presidential race after her dramatic statement on last night's Prime Time Presidential debate.

Near the end of the programme, she said that "vile and false allegations" had been made against a member of her family which would appear in today's newspapers.

However, no newspaper has run the story. Dana is not campaigning today.

Dana's biographer Ken Murray said the Independent candidate would clarify her position in the coming days.

He said someone from the US had contacted one of the national newspapers yesterday and made what he understood were "rather outrageous allegations against a member of the family".

Mr Murray said the newspaper contacted the Dana camp and said they intended to publish the allegations today, so "alarms bells went off", prompting Dana's statement.