THE former Fine Gael candidate for Louth, Lord Mount Charles, has indicated that he may stand as an independent Fine Gael candidate.
Lord Mount Charles was the guest speaker at an invitation only meeting of Fine Gael members in Louth last night. Party headquarters described the meeting as not "official". Neither of the official candidates had been invited or informed of the meeting.
In the speech, Lord Mount Charles, who got more than 4,000 first preference votes in the 1992 election, said he would seriously consider standing as a candidate in the next election but he had no intention of resigning from the party.
He described the Louth selection convention in September as a "shambles".
He did not attend the convention in Castlebellingham which selected county councillors, Mr, Fergus O'Dowd and Mr Terry Brennan to run, and deselected the sitting TD, Mr Brendan McGahon.
At that convention, Mr, McGahon strongly criticised delegates for the way they had treated him and said he would not allow himself to be added to the ticket. He has yet to indicate clearly if he will run as an independent.
A Fine Gael spokesperson last, night said the national executive had asked Mr McGahon to reconsider and was still willing to add, him to the ticket.
Before the meeting began Lord Mount Charles said he would seriously consider standing if asked but could not give an immediate, answer.
But he added: "Anyone who counts me out of the political frame is making a big mistake".