Murphy to run as an independent

Senator Eugene Murphy will be contesting the forthcoming general election as an independent candidate.

After weeks of speculation, the Scramoge man and former Fianna Fáil TD announced his decision on Shannonside Radio this morning.

“It has been very tough, a lot of soul searching,” he told the Herald. “I have worked with Fianna Fáil since I was 15 years of age. I am over 40 years with the party. I think I have served the party well, I owe it nothing. I am really sad for the Fianna Fáil grassroots, some of them will come with me, some of them won’t, I understand that.” He said that he will be supporting Government legislation in the Seanad, “because I think it would be hypocritical not to”.

“I won’t be attacking the party or the Government,” he said. “I still cannot comprehend why the party wouldn’t run a candidate in County Roscommon for the first time in its history, and give people that choice in the county of Roscommon.” He said that 82 per cent of the constituency’s vote was in County Roscommon. “Fianna Fáil should be electing two TDs from this constituency. It was a huge decision for me to put my party second on this occasion, and to put my county first.”