History made as paraplegic man joins council

HISTORY was made yesterday when, for the first time, a paraplegic became a member of Cork County Council.

Patrick Murphy, confined to a wheelchair following a car accident in Castletownbere in 1993, was co-opted onto the local authority, replacing the retired Cllr Donal Casey in the Bantry electoral area.

Cllr Murphy, 36, is the west Cork area manager of the National Learning Network, which is part of Rehab.

He is also a member of the Cork County Development Board and chairman of its Social Inclusion Measures Group.

The new councillor is a native of Urhan, on the Beara peninsula, and currently lives in Ballylickey.

However, for his work with the National Learning Network he is based in Bantry.

Mr Murphy said facilities for disabled people were very good at County Hall which would enable him to carry out his work without any difficulties.

His formal co-option was proposed by the FF leader on the council, Cllr Alan Coleman.

Mr Coleman said his party had looked at 10 candidates in the Bantry area and decided that Pat Murphy was the right man for the job.

“He has been very involved as a community activist in Bantry and other parts of Co Cork.

“I’ve no doubt he’ll bring great strengths and attributes to the council,” said Mlr Coleman.

Mr Murphy received a warm welcome from councillors from other parties, although FG’s Cllr Derry Canty said it had taken the party a long time to make its mind up about a replacement for Cllr Casey.

He retired last summer and there was a lot of unease within FF ranks in the Bantry area when FF party headquarters decided they would pick a candidate instead of the local organisation.

Mr Murphy thanked all the councillors for their warm welcome and paid tribute to former councillor Donal Casey.

“I have huge shoes to fill and I’ll have a lot to live up to,” said Mr Murphy.