FG U-turn as Canon appointed to Cork VEC seat

FINE GAEL councillors have been forced to make an embarrassing climbdown following a controversial row over appointments to Cork County Vocational Education Committee (VEC).

The row broke out two weeks ago when Fine Gael put up a party member and former county councillor to contest a seat traditionally held by a Church of Ireland representative on the 25-person VEC board.

Tom Sheahan, a former mayor of County Cork who lost his council seat at the last local elections, defeated the Church of Ireland representative, Canon George Salter.