Fine Gael adds two candidates to general election ticket

Julie O’Leary in Cork North Central to be joined in Donegal by Paddy Harte jnr

Fine Gael has added another two candidates to its general election tickets.

Julie O’Leary has been added to the Cork North Central ticket, where she will stand alongside Minister for European Affairs Dara Murphy.

The selection process had been contentious, with Mr Murphy narrowly beating Senator Colm Burke at convention.

Mr Burke’s supporters had called for him to be added but the Fine Gael executive council on Friday evening put Ms O’Leary on the ticket.

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The executive council also ratified the addition of Paddy Harte jnr to run alongside Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Joe McHugh.

Mr Harte is a son of long serving Fine Gael TD Paddy Harte and a brother of former Labour senator Jimmy Harte.