Former PDs to contest elections as Independents

The collapse of the Progressive Democrats means that so far, there are two independent candidates contesting this year"s county council elections in the Edenderry electoral area. Councillors Fergus McDonnell and Eddie Fitzpatrick were both elected to Offaly County Council as PD representatives in 2004. This week, Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick confirmed that he will run as an Independent candidate, having left the PDs in April 2008. 'I believe I have represented the people of my locality and north Offaly to the best of my ability,' said Cllr Fitzpatrick, who added that he"s looking forward to meeting people on the doorsteps over the next few months. 'I also believe the track record I have built-up over the last four and a half years will benefit my chances of re-election and maybe more-so now as a sole independent candidate.' Cllr Fergus McDonnell was previously a Fianna Fáil member and was briefly an independent candidate before he joined the PDs.