Michelle Gildernew 'likely' to get Seanad nomination

Former Northern Ireland agriculture minister, Michelle Gildernew, is likely to get a nomination from Sinn Fein to run in the Seanad elections.

The Tyrone woman ran in the Midlands Northwest constituency in the European elections but was unsuccessful. She is also a former MP in Westminster and MLA at Stormont and has close ties to Co Monaghan.

Sinn Fein normally seeks to have a senator in the Seanad who is from the North, and it's understood Gildernew is a strong contender this time. The Seanad elections take place at the end of January.