No place for ex-PD councillor

A former Progressive Democrat councillor who joined Fianna Fail has been refused a nomination for the local elections as part of the understanding reached last week between the Government partners.

Mr Larry Lohan, a founder-member of the PDs and a sitting councillor in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, had joined Fianna Fail in the belief that he would be added to the party ticket in place of Prof Richard Conroy, who is not running on June 11th.

The Dun Laoghaire branch of Fianna Fail has protested at the decision and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, a TD in Dun Laoghaire, has expressed his annoyance.

Fianna Fail's director of elections in the constituency, Mr Tom Kiernan, said last night the local executive would be appealing. "We're not happy with the decision and I've spoken to Mr Andrews and he is not happy. We want Larry Lohan to be elected as a Fianna Fail councillor, which is what he is at the moment."

At a meeting of the council last Monday night, at which he formally crossed to the Fianna Fail benches, Mr Lohan was told that his candidacy was not being ratified. The decision had been conveyed by Mount Street officials who, in turn, had been advised of the policy last Friday by the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy.

Sources from both parties confirmed that the issue was raised at last week's fence-building meeting between Mr McCreevy and PD Ministers of State Ms Liz O'Donnell and Mr Bobby Molloy.