FF adds senator to Wicklow ticket

THE Fianna Fail senator, Mr Dick Roche, was last night added to his party's ticket to contest the next general election in Wicklow. The party also ratified the nominations of the Wicklow councillor, Mr Michael Lawlor, and the Leas Cheann Comhairle of the Dail, Mr Joe Jacob.

Senator Roche was previously elected to the Dail in 1987 and reelected in 1989. In 1992 he lost his seat by fewer than 500 votes to former party colleague Mr Johnny Fox, who stood as an independent. Mr Roche was subsequently elected to the Seanad on the administrative panel.

Following Mr Fox's death in Senator Roche failed to regain the seat at the subsequent by election, losing out to Mr Fox's daughter, Mildred.

After the by election, which was marked by internecine Fianna Fail feuding, the organisation in the county was stood down and replaced by a committee made up of local activists and nominees of party headquarters.

At a selection convention held in May of this year, Senator Roche lost the party's nomination by one vote to Mr Michael Lawlor, a member of Bray Urban District Council and Wicklow County Council.

However, at a meeting in Leinster House last night, the national executive decided to add Senator Roche to the ticket, thereby fielding two candidates in north Wicklow, with Mr Jacob seeking to retain his seat in the south of the constituency.

At the last general election the constituency included parts of east Kildare which have now been dropped in favour of a small portion of the Carlow constituency. But these changes are not expected to influence the outcome of the poll greatly.

According to a Fianna Fail source, the decision to add Senator Roche was taken as a result of large increases in population in the north Wicklow area, notably Bray and Greystones, where the senator has a strong personal following among Fianna Fail activists.