FF cumann members demand action over bullying claims
In a letter to Sean Dorgan, general secretary of the party, members of the strife-ridden Castleconnell cumann accused party headquarters of turning a blind eye to what has been happening.
The signed letter adds: “In our view this systematic bullying seems acceptable to party headquarters, as the issue of bullying has never been tackled by you despite several complaints.
“Such is the party’s endorsement of the current situation that it could be interpreted as a constructive dismissal of its members. We trust this letter will receive serious reflection and will not be ignored as was the case with previous correspondence.”
The letter claims the Castleconnell cumann has been “hijacked and dismembered” by a small unrepresentative group, assisted by personnel from party headquarters whom they alleged had been involved in “dirty work”.
Elsewhere, the sort of wrangling which led to Fine Gael and Labour losing out in the Limerick city’s mayoral election on Monday could strike again tomorrow, this time at the expense of other parties, when a new chair is elected by Limerick County Council.
Fianna Fáil and the PDs who have 15 of the 28 seats. will nominate Progressive Democrat Brigid Teefy for the chair.
But one Fianna Fáil member is threatening to withdraw support for Ms Teefy which could lead to a tie if Fine Gael and Labour can attract the disaffected Fianna Fáil member.
Following Monday’s upheavals in Limerick City Council, Labour and Fine Gael are in a state of disarray after the mayoral election turned into a debacle for both parties.
With a total of nine of the 17 seats, FG and Labour had a pact to share the mayoralty for the five-year term of the present council. A Labour party nominee was poised to replace Fine Gael’s Michael Hourigan on Monday and Joe Leddin was expected to get the Labour nomination.
But a major internal row in the party over the weekend scuppered his bid and Labour told FG they could take the position again.
Maria Byrne went into the meeting as the FG nominee, but when party colleague Diarmuid Scully accepted a nomination by the independents on the council, he won the mayoralty by nine votes to eight with the support of FF and the Independents.
Mr Scully now faces disciplinary action from Fine Gael for having voted against the party.
