FF may lose seat in Kerry poll

A POLL in the Kerryman newspaper suggests that Fianna Fail may lose its second seat in the Kerry South constituency

A POLL in the Kerryman newspaper suggests that Fianna Fail may lose its second seat in the Kerry South constituency. The poll, published today, surveyed constituents' first preference intentions.

The results found that Mr Brian O'Leary, who is bidding to retain the Dail seat held by his father, John, would receive fewer first preference votes than two former Fianna Fail members, now running as Independents, Mr Jackie Healy Rae and Mr Breandan MacGearailt, and another strong contestant, Mr Aidan O'Connor of Fine Gael.

According to the poll, Mr John O'Donoghue of Fianna Fail will receive 20.83 per cent of first preference votes. Ms Breeda MoynihanCronin (Labour) will receive 14.35 per cent, while Mr MacGearailt is expected to get 14.35 per cent and Mr HealyRae 13.43 per cent. Mr O'Connor will receive 10.65 per cent while Mr O'Leary trails at 10.19 per cent, according to the poll.

The paper said more than 500 people were questioned about their voting intentions in the Kerry North and mouth constituencies. The poll was directed by Mr Gearoid O Donnchadha, a sociologist at Tralee RTC.

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In Kerry North it found Mr Dick Spring with 33.2 per cent support while Mr Jimmy Deenihan, a Fine Gael Minister of State, was put in second place with 26 per cent. Mr Denis Foley of Fianna Fail, the third TD in the area, showed 16.5 per cent, while his running mate, Mr Thomas McEllistrim, had 11.3 per cent. Mr Martin Ferris, the Sinn Fein candidate, was given 11 per cent support.

. Mr MacGearailt, a community candidate in South Kerry, said yesterday that windows in his Killarney office had been smashed and that in parts of midKerry his posters had been torn down.