Fine Gael has insisted that former TD Kate OâConnell was turned down for a place on the partyâs ticket in Dublin Bay South before she resigned from the party and announced she was running as an Independent.
Ms OâConnell, a high-profile former TD who had clashed with Leo Varadkar but seemed to be set for a return to the fold under Simon Harris, announced that she would run as an Independent candidate in an interview with the Sunday Independent.
Fine Gael strongly rejected the suggestion that Ms OâConnell had rejected an offer to run for the party, and said it has instead selected Cllr Emma Blain to run in the constituency, along with current lord mayor James Geoghegan.
In response to questions from The Irish Times, the party said: âYesterday the Fine Gael executive council approved the addition of Cllr Emma Blain to run with Cllr James Geoghegan in Dublin Bay South, where we will be aiming to win two seats. Kate OâConnell was not asked to run for Fine Gael in the forthcoming general election. Fine Gael HQ was in discussions with her â along with others â about a potential addition. Fine Gael HQ informed Ms OâConnell earlier last week that we would not be considering her further for addition in Dublin Bay South.â
Fine Gael sources said Ms OâConnell, along with others, had been engaged in a process of discussions and vetting that all potential candidates go through with party officials. During that process the party came to a decision that it would add Cllr Blain to the ticket. Ms OâConnell had been told in a phone call on Thursday that she would not be added and that her resignation from the party was received after this, senior Fine Gael sources say.
