Statement claims of 54 members of SF cumann quit over expulsions

A statement purporting to represent the members of Sinn Féin’s Cobh cumann claimed last night that 54 members had resigned in protest at the sanctioning of two party councillors in the region.

The resignations follow similar action at the party’s Fermoy cumann on Tuesday night where it was claimed that the entire 15-strong membership had quit in protest at the recent expulsion of party councillor Kieran McCarthy, of Cobh, and the suspension of Melissa Mullane, of Mallow.

Sinn Féin disputed the Fermoy resignations saying five of those who put their names to a resignation letter were not members and that as many as four others on the list had not been informed about the letter.

Last night’s statement from the Michael Burke Cumann Cobh, of which Mr McCarthy is a member, said “We deplore the unjust, undemocratic and reprehensible manner in which our two comrades were and are being treated by our former party.”

A Sinn Féin spokesman said they had “not received notifications of resignations”.

He said party structures in the area were “stood down” and that over the coming days, the party will be “contacting members in the East Cork constituency to brief them on the situation and to ensure that they have the full information relating to the constituency review”.

He added that the process had started last night “when the party held a meeting with members from Mallow, Fermoy, Carrigtwohill, Youghal, Midleton & Mitchelstown.

“The meeting was extremely positive with all in attendance expressing a desire to get on with the work of the party.”