Updated at 10:20pm
ALAN SHATTER HAS been selected as the Fine Gael candidate in the Dublin-Rathdown constituency.
The former justice minister defeated local councillor Neale Richmond and party activist John Kennedy at a selection convention held tonight.
First-time councillor Josepha Madigan, the only female in the race, has also been selected to run in the constituency, after Fine Gael headquarters instructed party members to pick one male and one female candidate.
The directive had put pressure on Shatter, who was seen to be facing tough competition from Richmond to be the male nominee.
Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell’s decision to retire from politics meant many of her supporters were thought to be backing Richmond, who worked for Mitchell and ran her election campaign in 2011.
As we reported in August, Shatter faced a further battle for members’ backing with many of his supporters having been moved into a neighbouring constituency.
The boundary redraw reduced the number of Fine Gael members in Dublin-Rathdown (formerly Dublin South) from over 400 to around 230 with some of Shatter’s supporters now moved into Dublin South-West.
His popularity locally has also waned in the wake of the various garda and justice controversies that forced him to resign from cabinet last year and the closure of a local garda station.
Additional reporting by Catherine Healy
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