North Cork Fianna Fáil councillor William O'Leary resigns from party

Fianna Fáil county councillor William O’Leary claimed Fianna Fáil has "abandoned many core values that I would have held dear".

William O'Leary said that Fianna Fáil has failed "to listen to the ordinary people on the everyday issues".

A Fianna Fáil county councillor has resigned from the party, claiming it is "failing to listen to the ordinary people on everyday issues” and has “abandoned its core values”. 

William O’Leary, 33, from Rathcormac in North Cork, made his resignation public on his Facebook page, adding that he is going to run as an independent candidate in the summer’s local elections.

Mr O’Leary, who was first elected to Cork County Council five years ago, said he haad been “disgruntled” with the party for some time and that his decision to quit it was made “with a heavy heart”. 

“People who know me know that I am a straight-talking individual," he said. "Whether you agree with me or not, I would hope that people would see that I put honesty above all else.

"In my five years as a county councillor, I have, to my disappointment, observed the failure of my party to listen to the ordinary people on the everyday issues and struggles that they face, and to myself as a councillor,” he said.

He added that he would have voted against the current makeup of the coalition Government and held serious concerns about its formation, which he maintained had led to the loss of strong opposition.

“This left less pressure on Government to listen to the needs of the ordinary people," he said. "From there, this Government has adopted a 'drive on regardless' approach,” said Mr O’Leary.

He added that he could not seek re-election under the Fianna Fáil banner “as it would be dishonest with constituents and dishonest with the party itself”. 

Mr O’Leary claimed Fianna Fáil has changed dramatically over the past decade and “abandoned many core values that I would have held dear”. 

Fianna Fáil leader on the council, Seamus McGrath, said he is sorry Mr O’Leary has decided to leave the party as he’d always had a good working relationship with him.

Mr O'Leary's departure follows the announcement that Connemara-based councillors Noel Thomas and Seamus Walsh are also to leave the party. Mr Thomas said the party had become detached from people, while Mr Walsh said he contest the June election under the Independent Ireland banner.

Both elected representatives were critical of Government plans to house asylum seekers in a former hotel in their area late last year.