FORMER FIANNA FÁIL minister Conor Lenihan will not run for his late brother Brian’s Dáil seat – because the party wants a young face, according to reports.

The death of ex-Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan from pancreatic cancer last month means Fianna Fáil must fight a by-election in Dublin West – the party’s only remaining seat in the capital after February’s general election. Conor, who lost his Dublin South West seat in February, had been widely expected to run with some even speculating that he had moved his registered address to the neighbouring constituency.

However the Sunday Times (print edition) reports that Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is looking for a ‘new broom’ to show the party has changed. Mr Martin said: “It is important to win the seat, but it is more important that people will see there is something new happening in Fianna Fáil.”

Councillor David McGuinness, 25, is understood to be a frontrunner for the candidacy. He told the paper: “If the party thinks I fit the bill, I’d be willing to stand.”

Read Stephen O’Brien’s full story in today’s Sunday Times (print edition) >

Read more: Brian Lenihan funeral hears of “great young man cut off in prime of life” >