Moves under way to end Fine Gael boycott of council

RENEWED efforts were made yesterday to settle a bitter row which has led to Fine Gael boycotting all meetings of Limerick County Council.

The dispute centres on a number of clashes arising out of a recent public meeting in Limerick to protest at the Government’s handling of the Aer Lingus pull-out of the Shannon/Heathrow route.

A Fine Gael member alleged he was accused of being a fascist at the Save Our Slots rally when he booed John Cregan of Fianna Fáil as the Government TD attempted to address the crowd. The Fianna Fáil member, who reportedly made the remark, subsequently alleged that, during another meeting of the council, a certain Fine Gael member directed threatening and abusive language at him. As a result, a complaint was lodged with the gardaí.

Since then, Fine Gael councillors have refused to enter the council chamber.

Council chairman Kevin Sheahan of Fianna Fáil yesterday moved to settle the row. But he said, if progress was to be made, all sides would have to approach the issue with “an open mind and an open heart”.

Mr Sheahan said: “Anybody who knows anything about negotiations knows there will be no progress if there are preconditions laid down. They will only serve to do more harm than good. People need to get mature in their attitude and get rid of the preconditions laid down to allow us to get back to do the work we were elected to do.”

He wanted both sides to identify a formula of words which could take the matter off the agenda.

Fine Gael leader on the council Patrick O’Donovan said he “could not agree more” with Mr Sheahan.

However, he said they are seeking a written apology from the Fianna Fáil councillor who branded their member a fascist.

“In order for advancement to be made, there are a number of issues outside the control of the council which need to be addressed and resolved first.”