FIANNA FÁIL Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú has confirmed Sinn Féin had asked him last week to support their candidate for the presidential election.
The 72-year-old Senator said Sinn Féin approached him “around the same time” as the fractious Fianna Fáil meeting on Thursday at which he told leader Micheál Martin he wanted to run as an Independent with some party support.
Mr Ó Murchú said Sinn Féin contacted him because of his “republican outlook”, but said his own name was already “out there” as a potential candidate.
Sinn Féin has 17 Oireachtas members and the party’s presidential candidate Martin McGuinness also has the support of four Independent TDs: Finian McGrath, Luke “Ming” Flanagan, Michael Healy-Rae and Tom Fleming. Twenty TDs and/or Senators are required to facilitate a nomination.
Mr Ó Murchú said he planned to launch his presidential campaign at the Rock of Cashel if Fianna Fáil parliamentarians were allowed to assist his nomination.
He yesterday claimed he had the support of 10 Independent TDs and Senators in Leinster House and could count on 10 members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, if leader Micheál Martin sanctioned a free vote.
“If I get the balance from Fianna Fáil I’m going to do a press launch at the Rock of Cashel, to reflect my roots and the tenacity of the Irish nation evident in the history of the rock,” he said.
He met Mr Martin for about an hour at 11.30am yesterday, and described the meeting afterwards as “constructive and friendly”.
He said they shook hands at the beginning and end of the meeting.
He said he would not take a salary if elected president because he would be honoured to serve in the Áras. He said he had not heard Mr Ó Cuív use the word “resign” at last week’s parliamentary party meeting.
