Connaughton is FF's hot tip for by-election

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

John Downing.

FIANNA Fail will tonight begin their campaign to win their first by-election in over 18 years by nominating a candidate in Roscommon-South Leitrim.

In the past, FF has effectively used by-elections to rebuild morale nationally as well as locally and they are expected to pull out all the stops in this constituency in a by-election expected this autumn.

The vacancy in the three-seat constituency was caused by the election of independent Luke 'Ming' Flanagan to the European Parliament on May 23 last.

FF sources suggested that their most likely candidate is Roscommon Cllr Ivan Connaughton who got over 4,000 first preferences in the February 2011 general election. Other FF names being mentioned are Roscommon Cllr Eugene Murphy of Strokestown and Leitrim Cllr Sinead Guckian. Delegates gather at the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon town tonight.