Cork County Mayor leaves post and Fianna Fáil party

The Mayor of County Cork has quit Fianna Fáil after more than 30 years and has criticised Micheál Martin “for not giving the party effective leadership” and wanting “to be surrounded by yes men in the parliamentary party”.

Just 24 hours before he is due to relinquish the chain of office, Mr Coleman held a press conference at which he also announced that he was going to run as an Independent in the next general election.

The councillor announced he was quitting the party and would contest the general election in the Cork South West constituency.