Cork council merger debate rages on

A former mayor of Cork county has accused two leading developers opposed to a merger of the city and county councils of opportunism and scaremongering.

Former Fianna Fáil Cllr Alan Coleman said he has the upmost admiration for John Cleary and Owen O’Callaghan as professional property developers.

"But I feel that their statement to the Irish Examiner objecting to a merger of Cork City and County Council is purely opportunistic," he said last night.