FIANNA FAIL is in danger of ‘total meltdown’ in Donegal North East election battle, a senior party stalwart has told donegaldaily.com.
Sitting TD Niall Blaney, Senator Cecilia Keaveney and Ciaran Brogan all want to stand in the three-seat constituency.
But a three-way split in the party in the constituency could see NONE of them get elected, the party insider warned this weekend.
That would be a catastrophe for the party and ‘finish it’ in Donegal, he said.
Brogan has caused controversy by insisting he get the party nomination. He believes he is the natural successor to Fianna Fail rebel Dr Jimmy McDaid.
But anyone in any doubt about the ambitions of Cecilia Keaveney to leave the Senate behind and return as a TD need only look online this weekend.
A notice appears telling everyone who wants to know that her new website is under construction.
And the name of that website?……Cecilia Keaveney TD!
Many observers believed sitting Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh should hold onto his seat and Sinn Fein’s Pádraig Mac Lochlainn is being tipped to take a seat this time around.
“Realistically we may only have one seat to take,” said a Fianna Fail stalwart.
“The idea that we put up three candidates is just crazy. Any slim chance of getting two seats will completely disappear.
“But there is going to be a three-way split in the traditional Fianna Fail vote and we have to accept that vote is massively reduced because of the economic situation and the controversy over expenses.
“If Cllr Brogan stands as an independent, he will take votes away from Fianna Fail, so the party is in a no-win situation.”
He said he feared losing the ‘guaranteed’ seat – and that ‘any one of the other candidates could get in there’.
Labour candidate Jimmy Harte and independent Ryan Stewart are hopeful that transfers could see them feature strongly.
But the most fascinating part of the election – the vote is expected on March 11 – will be the battle within Fianna Fail.
ends