Councillor defiant after FF withdraw the party whip

A FIANNA FÁIL councillor remained defiant last night despite losing the party whip for breaking ranks and voting against the party on Cork City Council’s 2012 budget.

Cllr Kenneth O’Flynn, who represents the Cork North Central Ward, said he stood by his decision.

“I haven’t left Fianna Fáil. The Fianna Fáil group has left me.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’m a member of the Fianna Fáil party. I will go on as a member of the party and I have every intention of carrying out my duties on the party’s ard comhairle as the councillors’ representative for the next two-and-a-half years.”

Cllr O’Flynn voted against his party last month after it supported a pact with Fine Gael and Labour to pass the budget. It included cuts across several areas, including housing and roads, after a €16 million cut in government funding.

He proposed cutting €145,000 from councillors’ expenses, reducing Opera House funding by €100,000 and Vision Centre funding by €50,000. This was rejected and he voted against his party and the budget.

The council’s Fianna Fáil group met on Monday and Lord Mayor Terry Shannon proposed the motion to remove the whip. It was seconded by Cllr Seán Martin. Cllr O’Flynn was backed by Cllr Mary Shields but he lost the vote.

Cllr O’Flynn, who topped the council’s list of expense claims last year, denied his stance was a stunt.

“Yes, in very good times, I drew genuine expenses. But this is not a stunt. There is no election coming.”

He said he had no plans to appeal the removal of the whip.