Fine Gael councillors summoned to hearing

Two Fine Gael councillors who refused to back a party colleague for mayor because of her stance on a rezoning vote have been summoned to an internal disciplinary hearing.

The hearing into the conduct of Waterford pair Ann Marie Power and Maxine Keoghan is scheduled for next Tuesday in Dublin following their failure to vote for Lola O’Sullivan in the contest for the mayoralty of Tramore last month.

As the fallout from the Fred Forsey corruption conviction continues, Ms Power and Ms Keoghan risk being thrown out of the party because of their stance in the vote.

Meanwhile, it is understood that Fine Gael county councillors in Waterford are meeting tonight with party general secretary Tom Curran.

Both Ms Power and Ms Keoghan said last month they could not support Ms O’Sullivan’s mayoral bid as she had voted in favour of the rezoning of a piece of land outside Dungarvan in 2008.

The land, at the heart of the Forsey corruption trial in May, was already the subject of a Garda investigation at the time of the 2008 vote.

Members of Waterford County Council had been warned by the then environment minister John Gormley against rezoning it from agricultural use to industrial, while council officials were also against it.

However, the rezoning was passed, with seven Fine Gael members — including Ms O’Sullivan — among those who voted in favour.

Ms Power was one of four Fine Gael councillors who opposed the rezoning.

Both Ms Power and Ms Keoghan have confirmed they had received letters asking them to attend a disciplinary hearing next Tuesday in Dublin, following complaints against them by Ms O’Sullivan and by the Fine Gael group on Waterford County Council.

Independent Joe Conway is the town’s new mayor.

Ms Keoghan yesterday said she was “disappointed” by the latest development within her party.

“I don’t accept I should be disciplined for having integrity and today I have a clear conscience with my decision to abstain [in the mayoralty vote].”

She described the treatment by party headquarters of herself and Ms Power as “disgraceful”, but said she does not want to have to leave Fine Gael. “It will mean them getting rid of me rather than me leaving the party,” she said