FORMER FIANNA FÁIL TD Chris Andrews has decided to put himself forward as a potential candidate in the local elections – for the Sinn Féin party.

Sources have told TheJournal.ie that the former TD for Dublin South-East had spoken to them about the move. Andrews was elected to the Dáil in 2007 but lost his seat in the 2011 general election.

His grandfather, Todd Andrews, was one of the founders of Fianna Fáil and he was the fourth member of his family to sit in the Dáil for the party.

Sinn Féin are keeping their cards close to their chest with a spokesperson refusing to confirm that Andrews was being considered as a potential candidate.

“At the moment we’re being inundated with applications for membership,” they said. “Any time anyone from another party wants to join, it has to go before the Ard Chomhairle. He’s not a member now and he’s not a candidate, that’s purely speculation at the moment.”

It is expected that his application will be considered by the Ard Chomhairle – the party’s national executive – this weekend.

Once source within Sinn Féin told TheJournal.ie that they were “disappointed and confused” by it.

They questioned whether Andrews was being considered just to “wobble Fianna Fáil” or because he was the best person for the job. The party currently has no councillor representing it in the constituency and sources said it was unlikely that another candidate would have much success in the area.

Andrews did not return calls requesting a comment.

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