FG line up McGahon nephew for Louth run

FINE Gael is lining up the nephew of former TD Brendan McGahon to run in Louth.

The vacancy arises after party TD Peter Fitzpatrick announced he won’t contest the next election.

The favourite to replace him on the ticket is Dundalk councillor John McGahon, a nephew of former party TD Brendan, who was well-known for his hardline stance on law and order and condemnation of the Provisional IRA.

The selection convention is deferred until next month with and six potential candidates in the field.

There was disagreement lo- cally about plans to run three candidates, with the third slot being earmarked for a woman to help meet the gender quota.

Fine Gael’s second TD in the constituency, former junior minister Fergus O’Dowd, who is based in Drogheda, has confirmed he will be running again.

Mr Fitzpatrick is the second Louth TD to announce his retirement from politics, after Fianna Fáil TD Seamus Kirk said he will also step down at the next election.

Mr Fitzpatrick is best remembered for managing the Louth team which was defeated in the Leinster Football final on July 10, 2010, by a late Meath “goal” in the most controversial circumstances.