Son of TD who died of cancer to stand for FG in election

FINE Gael has selected the son of late TD Theresa Ahearn, who died of cancer, to stand in Tipperary in the next general election.

It was something of a family affair at the selection convention over the weekend, as Garret Ahearn won the nomination ahead of Mary Newman, a sister of the sitting TD for Dublin Bay South, Kate O’Connell, by just six votes.

Mr Ahearn is also the son of ex-county councillor Liam Ahearn. His mother was a party TD for Tipperary South from 1989 until her death in 2000, aged just 49.

The father of Ms Newman, a vet from Westmeath, was also a Fine Gael councillor.

Among the other nominees were ex-TD Noel Coonan, who lost his seat in 2016, and Michael Murphy, who stood for the party in 2011.

Fianna Fáil selected sitting TD Jackie Cahill to run in the area, on Friday.