Dissident to seek FG nomination in Wicklow

THE Wicklow county councillor, Mr George Jones, who left Fine Gael amid a bitter controversy five years ago, is to seek a party nomination to contest the general election.

Mr Billy Timmins, son of the retiring Fine Gael TD, Mr Godfrey Timmins, also announced yesterday that he would seek a nomination and has resigned as an Army officer. Among the other candidates to go before next week's selection convention will be the journalist and broadcaster, Ms Ruth Buchanan, and Mr Tom Honan, the party's unsuccessful candidate in the 1995 by election.

Mr Jones allowed his name go forward after being nominated by the Greystones branch of the party. "I have yet to rejoin the party, but obviously I will only stand as a Dail candidate as a member of Fine Gael," he said last night.

The move is part of a process, initiated by the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, to end a rift which split the north Wicklow section of the organisation when Senator Shane Ross, husband of Ms Buchanan, was imposed as a candidate in the 1992 general election.

Mr Jones was among loo disgruntled party members to leave in protest and join the newly formed "Voice of Wicklow" alliance, with the aim of promoting the best interests of the county. As a prominent county councillor, and member of Greystones Town Commissioners, his departure was seen as a bad blow to the party.

It is not clear if all of the members of the "Voice of Wicklow" will rejoin the party, but they are certain to support Mr Jones if he is nominated as a candidate. Mr Jones last night paid tribute to the Taoiseach for the manner in which he had handled the matter in his contacts with the local Fine Gael organisation and the "Voice of Wicklow" representatives this week, adding that he was confident the rift could be healed.