Gay marriage vote sees councillors break ranks

A Fine Gael and a Labour councillor yesterday broke ranks by opposing a motion calling for support for gay marriage at a meeting of Kerry County Council.

Fine Gael’s John Sheahan and Labour’s Pat Leahy were the only government party members to vote against the motion, which was passed by 18 votes to 7. Another Fine Gael councillor Pat McCarthy abstained.

The two Independent Healy-Rae councillors also took different stances, with father Danny voting against and his son Johnny voting for.

The overwhelming majority of Fianna Fáil councillors voted for, with only one party member John Joe Culloty opposing.

Fourteen local authorities have now voted in favour of same-sex marriage.

Upwards of 15 members of Ciarrai Amach, a Kerry-based organisation that promotes the rights of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, were in the public gallery when the motion was moved by Labour councillor Gillian Wharton-Slattery.

Ms Wharton-Slattery, a married mother of two from Tralee, said more people were becoming aware of the difficulties facing minorities and society had moved on, citing the introduction of civil partnership.

‘’But, we must move that bit further on. Sometimes, we have to break with tradition for things to get better and to make things right for people,’’ she said.

Sinn Féin Cllr Toireasa Ferris, seconding, urged councillors “to do the right thing’’, rather than the popular thing, and support equality for everyone in the country.

South Kerry Independent Alliance Cllr Michael Gleeson, who voted against the motion, said that since time immemorial heterosexual marriage was the norm for human behaviour.

Speaking outside the chamber afterwards, Ms Wharton-Slattery claimed she had been subjected to ‘’emotional bullying’’ on the issue in the past week and had turned off her phone on Sunday.

‘’I just couldn’t listen to another call. I am a politician, but a bit of respect wouldn’t have gone astray,’’ she said.

Ciarrai Amach chairman Martin Greenwood welcomed the council’s decision and said he had expected more opposition to the motion.

The abortion issue also came before yesterday’s meeting and, following strong opposition to his motion opposing “any form of legislation on abortion, in any circumstances’’, Fianna Fáil councillor John Joe Culloty was allowed a brief adjournment to reword it.

After consulting with fellow FF councillors Norma Foley and John Brassil, who both indicated they could not support the original wording, he put forward an amended motion that the council ‘’acknowledges the right to life of the unborn, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, and opposes any measures that do not uphold this view.’’ The motion was passed unanimously.

About a dozen people carrying pro-life placards stood outside the council building.