Fianna Fail hit by fresh TD election withdrawls

Two more top Fianna Fáil TDs will not contest the upcoming election, it has been announced.

Minister for Defence Tony Killeen has revealed that he will not stand in the general election due to health issues while junior minister Michael Finneran withdrew last night.

Fianna Fáil TD Killeen, who had recently been receiving treatment for cancer, released a statement on his website this morning which thanked Brian Cowen for his support and added that the Taoiseach had already been informed of his decision.

The Clare TD mentioned in an interview on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that he had intended to contest the election but decided to withdraw after receiving medical advice.

Finneran, meanwhile, who is a close ally of Brian Cowen, shocked party colleagues last night when he announced that he would not be running in the General Election either.

It takes the total number of Fianna Fail TDs to rule themselves out ahead of what is expected to be a savaging at the polls.