Councillor under fire over early exit for panto

FIRST Georgia Salpa quits a panto, now a Cork city councillor is being lambasted for starring in one.

However, Salpa, a week after pulling out of the plum role of Queen Kardashian in Sleeping Beauty, strolled into last night’s opening show at the Tivoli Theatre in Dublin. No doubt she was supporting her “amazing” stand-in model friend Michelle McGrath.

In Cork, Fine Gael’s CLlr Laura McGonigle said it was “shocking” Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy, who plays nasty squire Gasbag Le Buff, left last night’s annual budget meeting before any voting on the service programmes. Ms McGonigle said he left City Hall before 7pm to go and perform.

“At the most important meeting in the year of the City Council, I think it’s shocking that an elected public representative would just walk out.

“When someone stands to be elected for any local authority they are aware that one of the most important executive functions is to strike the commercial rate each year and pass the budget.

“The overall revenue expenditure proposed for 2012 is €166,968,900. If Cllr McCarthy didn’t see a role for himself at last night’s meeting then perhaps he needs to reassess his position.”

Mr McCarthy is understood to have made an address at the meeting outlining his reservations to the budget cuts.