An IRA bomb survivor today confirmed he was re-entering the race for a Westminster seat despite alleged dirty tricks against him.
Anti-Belfast agreement unionist Mr Jim Dixon, who withdrew from the battle from the Fermanagh and South Tyrone seat last Tuesday alleging dirty tricks, issued a statement confirming he would run again.
Mr Dixon, who survived the 1987 Enniskillen bomb which killed 11 people will hand in his nomination papers for the seat later today.
He said: "I have decided to reconsider my decision to withdraw from the parliamentary race for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
"I can confirm I will now be contesting the seat. I shall issue a further statement on my decision to re-enter the contest."
Mr Dixon's decision to re-enter the race means that there are now two Unionist candidates in the field for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
Ulster Unionist James Cooper is defending the seat for his party which is being vacated by UUP security spokesman Mr Ken Maginnis.
The Ulster Unionist gained a 13,688 majority over Sinn Féin in the last election.
However, Mr Maginnis was the only Unionist candidate in that contest.
Fermanagh and South Tyrone has not had more than one Unionist candidate since 1979 when independent nationalist Mr Frank Maguire won the seat.
Sinn Féin, which lost the seat in 1983, is hopeful that its candidate, Ms Michelle Gildernew, can take the seat this time if there is a split Unionist vote.
She said: "Sinn Féin are well ahead of the SDLP candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. I am the only nationalist candidate capable of winning the seat. The reintroduction of Jim Dixon into the field puts us in pole position to win".
However, the SDLP's Tommy Gallagher believes he will fair well in the contest.
Had Mr Dixon not re-entered the race, the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists' would have either had to find another anti-agreement candidate or re-enter Stormont minister Maurice Morrow.
Mr Morrow pulled out of the race before Mr Dixon's withdraw last week to enable him to have a clear run at the anti-agreement vote.
Mr Dixon had hinted on Friday that he was giving serious consideration to re-entering the race.
He reported: "I have been overwhelmed and deeply touched by the letters, visits and phone calls from all over the constituency and province requesting me to reconsider my decision to withdraw my candidature.
"I've also been much encouraged by the messages of support from the leading figures in the Unionist parties opposing the Belfast Agreement."
The retiring current-holder of the seat, Mr Maginnis, has accused the DUP of coercing Mr Dixon to re-enter the race. He claimed: "Some of us have, in the search for peace, been obliged to work with Sinn Féin. The DUP, however, are clearly working for Sinn Féin." PA