Internal row as Sinn Fein insiders brand three-candidate strategy 'deluded'

Daithi Doolan has been added to the party's ticket in Dublin South Central, raising fears that the move could split the vote and jeopardise Sinn Fein's seat in the constituency

By: irishmirror.ie

Nov 10 2024
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Internal row as Sinn Fein insi

A row has broken out in scandal-hit Sinn Fein over its decision to run three candidates in a key constituency – with party members labelling it “deluded”.

The Republican party has added Councillor Daithi Doolan as a third candidate in Dublin South Central, a four-seat constituency. His addition is expected to be announced tomorrow and is causing further rancour within the party. It has provoked outcry, with some saying it’s too many candidates for the voting area and risks none of them getting in.

The original plan was to run Aengus O Snodaigh, a TD there for more than 20 years, alongside seasoned, popular councillor Maire Devine, a psychiatric nurse from the Liberties.

This was deemed enough, with members saying they did not want to run too many candidates and dilute the vote, as happened in the local elections earlier this year.

However, Mr Doolan, who ran in the European Parliament elections in June, is understood to have wanted to run in the upcoming general election on November 29. In August, he put forward a motion locally to do away with gender balance quotas, which provide there must be a 50/50 split of male and female candidates.

But the Sinn Fein district council strongly rejected this motion. Mr Doolan has since been added to the ticket as a third candidate.

One insider said: “Running one candidate is cautious, running two is ambitious, but running three is deluded. It puts everyone at risk. It means possibly none of the three will get in. Aengus has been a TD there since 2002, but with three Sinn Fein candidates on the ballot, even he might not get in.”

Another party insider said: “We might have 1.5 of the quota, but there’s no hope of three seats in a four-seater. This decision strays from core party beliefs and further shows the party is not listening to its grassroots.”

One of the concerns locally is that the constituency, which runs from working-class Ballyfermot to the leafy suburbs of Terenure, has become increasingly gentrified.

It’s known as the “People’s Republic” as it is the most left-wing constituency in the country with no Fianna Fail or Fine Gael TD elected.

Director of Elections Matt Carthy told the Irish Mirror: “Sinn Fein is running over 70 candidates in this election, including candidates who have been added in a number of constituencies in the past week.

“Among the constituencies is Dublin South Central where we will be standing Cllr Daithi Doolan, a proven vote-getter an a Sinn Fein candidate for Europe earlier this year. He will be standing alongside Cllr Maire Devine and sitting TD Aengus O Snodaigh.

“We are standing three excellent candidates to win three seats, and we are confident that voters in Dublin South Central will take this opportunity to vote for a change of government.”

A decision is also expected tomorrow around a replacement for Laois-Offaly TD Brian Stanley, who quit the party alleging the use of a “kangaroo court” after a complaint made by a woman.

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