Fine Gael party leadership had to intervene to quell a candidate selection row in Cork South-West. In December, councillor and Skibbereen native Karen Coakley was added to the ticket in Cork South-West by the Fine Gael executive council. That frustration boiled over in recent weeks, resulting in more than 500 party members signing a petition calling for Mr O’Donovan to be added to the ticket. The row escalated to the point that Ms Coakley told The Southern Star that she felt she had been “bullied” in an attempt to make her withdraw her name. He told members that no additional candidates will be added.

Source: Irish Examiner January 17, 2020 05:37 UTC