The pain over my baby son who died
SENIOR Fianna Fáil sources have suggested former minister Mary Hanafin could yet be a ‘surprise’ nomination for the forthcoming MEP elections.
Ms Hanafin is currently expected to run for the party in Dún Laoghaire in the next General Election. However, in a reference to the party’s struggles in Dublin, party sources told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘Don’t rule out a surprise Hanafin run for Europe, the smoke signals from Dún Laoghaire are not good at the moment.’
Ms Hanafin’s entry into an already crowded field will come as an unpleasant surprise to the current contenders where a battle royale is already emerging between two Fianna Fáil dynasties and new Fianna Fáil for the electoral nod.
Initially, former Junior Minister Barry Andrews had been the favourite to be selected for the party, but his candidacy has been accompanied by unease about his low profile.
The concern was summarised by one senior figure who said: ‘Barry is somewhat milk and water in how he approaches politics.’ The day, they added, ‘where the old dynasties secured seats as of right are gone. A candidate must be charismatic or stand for something. Barry does neither’.
The absence of support for Andrews has sparked a revival of interest in another dynastic scion, Conor Lenihan.
He has yet openly to declare but the colourful former junior minister has already attempted to secure an electoral return to domestic politics via a quixotic bid to secure a place on the Fianna Fáil Dáil ticket for Roscommon. One source said: ‘Say what you like about Conor but he has a public profile. He is unforgettable. And he has the experience.’
Mr Lenihan, who famously as Minister for Science, launched a book supporting creationism, would certainly be more colourful.
Both the Lenihan and Andrews dynasties, however, may be gazumped by new Fianna Fáil courtesy of growing interest in equality activist Tiernan Brady.
But Ms Hanafin’s arrival into the fray may scupper all of their plans.