Are you Sinn out of race for prez?

Mary Lou not ruling herself out of the mix

- BY LOUISE BURNE Political Correspondent

SINN Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has refused to rule herself out as her party's candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

It marks a major change in position for the Dublin Central TD who, up until yesterday, had repeatedly ruled herself out of the race.

It is expected that the party will have a “clearer position” on its plans by the end of July.

President Michael D Higgins will come to the end of his 14-year stint in Aras an Uachtarain in November.

An election is likely to take place in October but there have been no candidates declared yet.

Ms McDonald has repeatedly ruled out running in the election, saying as recently as March that it “won't be me”.