THE vice president of Sinn Fein, Mr Pat Doherty, will contest the Donegal North East by election caused by the death of veteran TD Mr Neil Blaney.
Mr Blaney's brother, Harry, a county councillor, is also likely to be a candidate following his election at the weekend as leader of the Independent Fianna Fail party. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour have yet to select candidates for the poll, which is likely to take place after Easter.
Mr Doherty was chosen unanimously at an election convention in Ballybofey on Sunday. He stood in the constituency in the general election of 1989, when he won 4 per cent of the vote. He was also Sinn Fein's candidate for the Connacht/Ulster constituency in the 1994 European election.
Mr Doherty yesterday pointed to the "many changes both in this constituency and throughout the island, most particularly in relation to the peace process". He will be hoping to capitalise on his high profile since the beginning of the peace process both as Sinn Fein vice president and head of his party's delegation to the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.
A number of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors is interested in obtaining nominations. Senator Sean Maloney is likely to be Labour's candidate.
The Donegal North East by election will probably be on the same day as the one in Dublin West caused by the death of Mr Brian Lenihan.
Mr Neil Blaney, who died at the end of last year, was the longest serving Dail deputy, first elected in 1948. He founded Independent Fianna Fail over 25 years ago after being expelled from Fianna Fail in November, 1971.