Expected councillor’s defection ‘a betrayal’

THE expected defection of a prominent Fianna Fáil councillor to Fine Gael has prompted colleagues to accuse her of betrayal.

It is anticipated Cllr Deirdre Forde will officially resign from FF within the next 24 hours and contest the forthcoming local elections in Co Cork under the main opposition party’s banner. Talks between Ms Forde and FG leader Enda Kenny are believed to be at an advanced stage and were facilitated by Simon Coveney TD.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe said Ms Forde was a very capable councillor and he wanted her to stay with FF.

“I’m not sure that, by joining Fine Gael, she’s going to increase in any way her chances of being elected, given the existing councillors already in place,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

The fact Ms Forde didn’t let her party colleagues know she was in negotiations to jump ship has infuriated some of them, especially FF’s leading figures on the county council.

Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe, deputy leader of FF on Cork County Council, said he couldn’t understand why Ms Forde hadn’t spoken to him on the matter.

“I feel betrayed. I sit next to her in the council chamber and I’ve been friends with her a number of years. I’m totally taken aback and very annoyed,” said Mr O’Keeffe, e son of Ned O’Keeffe TD.

Cllr Alan Coleman, who heads the 16-strong FF membership on the council, said he also felt very let down. “I’m very disappointed she hasn’t spoken to me, especially at this late stage. I’m aware she had problems with communications from headquarters and with the selection process in her own area,” Mr Coleman said.

That was a reference to the selection of Minister Micheál Martin’s twin brother, Pádraig to contest the local elections in Ms Forde’s area — a move which she felt was aimed at unseating her.

“It is a major leap between being disillusioned and then defecting to our main political rival,” Mr Coleman said.

“I can understand her annoyance but, unfortunately, there is the possibility that this will be seen as political opportunity on her part,” he said.

Ms Forde was the party’s whip on the county council and her defection will be seen as a major coup for Fine Gael.

The FG party leader on the county council, Cllr Michael Hegarty, said if Fianna Fáil had looked after Ms Forde she would have remained loyal. “If it (her defection) comes to pass it will be a great coup for our party and it would give us a chance of winning four out of the six seats up for grabs in the Carrigaline electoral area.”

He said the decision to run Pádraig Martin in Ms Forde’s backyard had made her extremely unhappy. “It was the final nail in the coffin. Fianna Fáil should have looked after her when they had her.

“I imagine an official announcement about her position will be made in the next 24 hours,” Mr Hegarty said.