FF probe claim that party member endorsed independent for election
It is claimed the secretary of the Fianna Fáil cumann, Michael Kirwan, was one of those who endorsed independent candidate Dixie Doyle for the election.
Mr Doyle, who was returned to office, broke ranks with Fianna Fáil many years ago after he was not selected by the cumann to run at election. He has been successfully elected as an independent since.
It is claimed that in Mr Doyle’s home parish of Thomastown, Mr Kirwan signed the document on May 20 proposing him as an election candidate.
Neither Mr Doyle nor his wife would comment on the matter, saying it was an internal one for Fianna Fáil. After further questioning from local radio station KCLR 96FM, Mr Kirwan said: “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
Kilkenny County Council’s returning officer Martin Mullally confirmed one of the proposers was a Michael Kirwan of Danesrath, Knocktopher, Co Kilkenny. But he could not confirm if it was the cumann secretary or his son, Michael Kirwan Junior.
He said details taken for the purpose of identification on May 20 could not be divulged.
A number of others who signed the record proposing Mr Doyle have failed to identify the Michael Kirwan in question.
But the chairman of the local comhairle ceanntar, Philip Walsh, promised the matter would be investigated and the results made public.
“There will be an investigation into the matter at local level and comhairle council level. It would be very upsetting for us within the party were someone involved in the party involved in the nomination of an independent candidate.
“We are going to investigate it and find out the identity of the person involved.
“I don’t see why the findings of that investigation would not be made public,” he added.
