Standing ovation for deselected

AMONG the many sub-plots within Fine Gael in Co Wexford presently a speech by deselected General Election candidate Verona Murphy at a party meeting in Enniscorthy on Monday night – which garnered a standing ovation – was a stand-out moment.

The executive meeting at the Riverside Park Hotel heard from Ms Murphy, weeks after the Independent General Election candidate was deselected having lost the trust of Taoiseach Leo

Varadkar and senior ministers within the party. At a previous officer board meeting a move was made by director of elections for Co Wexford Martin Lawlor to remove county chairperson Avril Doyle from her post. The vote was carried, but Ms Doyle remains on as chair.

Ms Murphy spoke early on during a packed Fine Gael executive meeting which was attended by TDs Michael D’Arcy Jnr and Paul Kehoe, along with county councillors. She made a speech as a

member of Fine Gael, thanking party members for their support during the by-election.

Ms Murphy became emotional at the end of the speech when outlining how her controversial comments were reported in the media in November. A party member who attended the meeting said she never blamed anybody for her performance.

Ms Murphy received a standing ovation and afterwards a heated 20 minute discussion took place about how she was treated by the party.

‘It was a full and frank debate. A lot of people came out in favour of her and many said they weren’t happy about the party’s treatment of her.’

The executive committee tried to unify party members behind Mr D’Arcy and Mr Kehoe ahead of what is expected to be a difficult General Election campaign over the coming weeks, but a source within the party said there is strong support for Ms Murphy who is expected to get many Fine Gael votes in the upcoming election.