Michael and Danny Healy-Rae pictured in same place for first time since split

Brothers Danny and Michael Healy-Rae were photographed for the first time in close proximity since Michael's explosive Radio Kerry interview earlier this month. Picture: Don MacMonagle

Michael and Danny Healy-Rae have been pictured in the same place for the first time since their explosive split earlier this month.

The brothers both attended the opening of T1 Healthcare's Alder Lodge outside Killarney on Thursday.

Disability minister Norma Foley opened the centre, which will provide full-time residential care for adults with disabilities and other challenges.

Michael Healy-Rae was seen greeting T1 Healthcare CEO Joe Shannon at the event, with his brother Danny also in attendance. It is understood that there was no interaction between them at the event. 

Michael dramatically resigned as a junior minister during April's fuel protests, and speaking for the first time since earlier this month, he claimed he had been thrown “overboard” by his brother, Danny.

Michael heavily criticised his brother for calling for Micheál Martin and Simon Harris to be replaced on the day before the vote of no confidence tabled by Sinn Féin.

He said the interview Danny gave on Radio Kerry on the Monday before the no-confidence vote had effectively “sacked him”.

Danny had signed up to support the Government and it was not his place to publicly criticise it, Michael said.

Brothers Danny Healy-Rae speaks with disability minister Norma Foley as Michael Healy-Rae walks past. Picture: Don MacMonagle

Following the interview, Danny insisted that "Team Healy-Rae" remains intact despite the comments from his brother.

Meanwhile, a close ally of Michael said he could not, “with my hand on heart”, canvass for second-preference votes for the former junior minister’s brother.

“Because of the manner in which he came out, without discussing it to ourselves or to his brother, I take a very dim view of that,” he said.

However, Independent Listowel councillor Liam 'Speedy' Nolan, another ally of Michael Healy-Rae, said it was “too soon” to talk about the next election and that he hoped the brothers might reconcile.