Speculation mounts over Agnew's plans as election called
THE SECOND general election within the space of eight months caught the political parties in Louth unprepared as they struggled to call conventions and select candidates.
The election was called in the third week of January, 1982 after the Government collapsed when they failed to get their budget through the Dail.
As the election was called much of the speculation in Louth surrounded the intentions of H-block prisoner, Paddy Angew who caused a sensation by winning a seat in the previous election topping the poll with 8,300 votes.
The indications were that Mr. Agnew was not anxious to run again as he was still serving his time in prison, but many Sinn Fein supporters were pressing him to run.
It was expected that sitting Fianna Fail Deputies, Padraig Faulkner and Eddie Filgate would run again and that Dundalk Councillor, Tom Bellew who ran in the previous election and did well would be on the ticket.
But others such as John Deery, originally from Brook Street and Councillors, Johnny Connor and Nicholas Mccabe were in the frame for FF.
Fine Gael also seemed likely to run the same three candidates, sitting TD, Bernard Markey, Brendan Mcgahon and Dick Brannigan from Drogheda who had been added to the ticket at the previous election by headquarters.
Labour who had done badly in the last election had selected Michael Bell, a Drogheda councillor.
The election was due to take place on February 18th.
