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Sinn F茅in picks candidate for West Tyrone by-election

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Michelle O'Neill and 脫rfhlaith BegleyImage source, Sinn F茅in
Image caption,

脫rfhlaith Begley - pictured with Sinn F茅in vice-president Michelle O'Neill - is a solicitor

Sinn F茅in has selected solicitor 脫rfhlaith Begley as its candidate to contest the West Tyrone by-election.

The 26-year-old County Tyrone woman was chosen by the party at a selection convention in Omagh on Sunday.

She is the daughter of Se谩n Begley, a long-serving Sinn F茅in councillor on Omagh District Council.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Sinn F茅in MP Barry McElduff last month after he posted a controversial video on Twitter.

Media caption,

Barry McElduff said he regretted causing "deep and unnecessary" hurt with his video

Mr McElduff posed in a shop with a loaf of Kingsmill bread on his head.

He posted the clip on social media on the 42nd anniversary of the killing of 10 Protestant workmen by IRA gunmen in Kingsmills, County Armagh.

Mr McElduff apologised, saying he did not make the connection between his actions and the massacre.

But the sole survivor of the gun attack in 1976 said he would not accept Mr McElduff's apology, adding: "I'll never forgive him."

'Modern and inclusive'

Ms Begley, from Carrickmore, said she was "proud" to have been chosen and she hoped to be a "new voice" for the constituency.

Image source, Twitter
Image caption,

Barry McElduff posed with a loaf of Kingsmill bread on his head and posted it on Twitter

"I look forward to working with the Sinn F茅in team in West Tyrone to regain the Westminster seat and build on the first-class representation Sinn F茅in provides for all," she said.

"If elected MP for West Tyrone I pledge that I will be an MP for all, that I will work without fear or favour for all the people of this constituency."

"I want a modern and inclusive Ireland," she added.

Sinn F茅in described Ms Begley as a "passionate human rights advocate" in her legal work, and said she had worked on several election campaigns in West Tyrone.

A date has yet to be confirmed for the by-election.