Fianna Fáil investigates ‘dirty tricks’

Fianna Fáil has launched an inquiry into a dirty tricks campaign after TD Bobby Aylward was alerted to anonymous callers telling party members not to give their number ones to him in the election.

This is the second inquiry launched by Fianna Fáil in as many days after it was forced to look into an alleged on-street spat involving the canvass teams of two of its Dublin candidates this week.

Carlow-Kilkenny candidate Mr Aylward yesterday said he was informed by constituents about unsolicited calls, allegedly made from party headquarters, to voters to instead give outgoing TD John McGuinness, the party’s second candidate, their number ones.