THE Louth Fine Gael TD, Mr Brendan McGahon, said "there are nails in my political coffin tonight but the lid is not yet closed" after coming second last out of six candidates in a selection convention for the next general election.
He was one of six nominees at a convention attended by about 1,000 delegates in Castlebellingham, Co Louth, last night where, before the voting, he made a passionate speech saying he wanted to be selected by his party colleagues and not added to the electoral ticket.
After congratulating the successful candidates, Mr McGahon (60) said: "This hotel has become a house of horrors for me and I want to get out of it as fast as I can. I feel abject hurt at what Fine Gael delegates have done to me ... you handed me the most unenviable record of any politician. I have been elected four times and I get this - a second kick in the groin and public humiliation."
In the 1989 General Election he also failed to be selected but was added to the party ticket.
He told delegates he had only secured 95 votes and "quite frankly as second last, I don't think you deserve me. I am hurt to the quick".
Mr McGahon said he would not accept a nomination from "John Bruton or the Holy Ghost and I will not be beaten until the people of Co Louth tell me to go".
He is expected to make a further statement about his political career and whether he will stand as an independent candidate on Monday.