Councillors angry as mayor told to remove chain

A MAJOR row has blown up after the chairman of Limerick County Council was ordered to remove his official chain of office at a black-tie charity dinner.

The council had splashed out €900 for a table of 12 to help an Alzheimer’s fundraiser organised by Newcastle West Lions Club.

Council chairman, Cllr Eddie Creighton and his wife were at the council-sponsored table at the function in the Dunraven Arms Hotel when he was asked to remove his chain of office, which he did.

He was told it was contrary to protocol to wear a chain of office there.

Furious officials at the county council headquarters have decided to send a formal written protest to Newcastle West Lions Club in the coming days.

One said: “This was an insult to the chairman, the office, the people of Limerick and the council.”

One person who was a guest at the council table said: “A prominent member of the Newcastle West Lions club walked over to our table and asked Cllr Creighton to remove his official chain of office. We thought he was joking at first. But he insisted and Cllr Creighton removed his chain when told the only chain that could be worn at the function was that worn by the president of the Newcastle West Lions Club. As Cllr Creighton did not want to cause any embarrassment he took off the official chain of office. We were furious.”

Cllr Creighton, was not avoidable for comment, but one source said he later regretted removing his chain.

A spokesman for Newcastle West Lions Club said they had no comment to make on the matter.