FF ousts children’s church collection

FIANNA Fáil has embroiled itself in an unholy row and could face legal proceedings after ousting a Co Limerick children’s group from holding a church gate collection last Sunday.

Knocklong Community Games Committee had a garda permit to hold their annual collection that day.

But when committee members arrived at the parish church, they were met by local Fianna Fáil cumann members taking up the party annual collection.

Fianna Fáil had no permitto collect last Sunday.

A community games committee member, who asked not to be named, said: “We obtained our permit from garda headquarters in Limerick to have a collection on Sunday outside the church gate. But when our people arrived, the Fianna Fáil members were already taking up their collection and we had no choice but to cancel our collection.”

Dan Ryan, Knocklong FF Cumann chairman said they had a permit to take up their collection a few weeks ago. He said: “We were told that the collection for the parish clerk was being taken up the same day so we agreed to postpone our collection. We did not know there was another collection planned for last Sunday.”

A garda spokesman said a permit to a hold a collection is for a specific date and holding a collection without one was an offence.

Fianna Fáil raised more than €500. One local said: “Some people gave money thinking it was going to community games. Fianna Fáil should hand over some of the money.”