FG denies trying to erase Cosgrave name

Fine Gael last night rejected the contention by Senator Liam Cosgrave, the son of former Taoiseach Mr Liam Cosgrave, that the party was trying to erase his family's name from the political landscape.

On Tuesday, Fine Gael added a third candidate, Dublin County GAA chairman, Mr John Bailey, to its ticket in D·n Laoghaire, alongside Senator Cosgrave and Senator Helen Keogh.

Still smarting at the move, Mr Cosgrave claimed he had not been consulted about it in advance: "There is, maybe, a deliberate attempt to write the Cosgraves off the scene." In the 1997 general election campaign, Mr Cosgrave stood aside to allow Mr Sean Barrett and Ms Monica Barnes to run for Fine Gael in the constituency - which has traditionally returned two FG deputies.

"I am surprised that we are not adopting a strategy that worked well the last time," said Mr Cosgrave, Leas Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.

"I think the two-candidate strategy adopted the last time is the correct one. Maybe I will be proven wrong in time. The people of D·n Laoghaire will decide my fate, and nobody else," he declared. Fine Gael's Director of Elections, Mr Finbar Fitzpatrick disputed Mr Cosgrave's contention the party is adopting a unique strategy in D·n Laoghaire.

Fine Gael's other D·n Laoghaire candidate, Ms Helen Keogh adopted a relaxed approach to Mr Bailey's arrival: "Anything that helps to get rid of this government is fine by me," she told The Irish Times.