War of Independents as Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins trade blows on Facebook

The Tipperary South and Cork South-West TDs resort to 'handbags at dawn' after a Cork Aontú county councillor's Facebook post about this week's abortion vote

In a previous spat, Independent TD Mattie McGrath (right) said Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins was the second traitor of that name from West Cork. See link below. Picture: Conor Ó Mearáin/Collins

A Facebook war of words has broken out between Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins and Independent TD Mattie McGrath about the establishment of the party.

In what one political source branded “handbags at dawn”, Cork South West TD Michael Collins, Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath, and Aontú Cork county councillor Peter O’Donoghue have taken to social media to debate how Independent Ireland was founded and who was involved.

On Wednesday, as the Dáil prepared to vote on Sinn Féin’s proposal to abolish the three-day abortion “reflection period”, Mr O’Donoghue, a councillor in Fermoy, posted a video on Facebook noting that none of Independent Ireland’s four TDs spoke during the debate on Tuesday evening or posted anything about it on social media. He said: 

Independent Ireland sticks its finger in its mouth, puts it up in the air, and looks to see which way the wind is blowing. 

“They think there might be damage done if they are seen to be vocal on this issue.

“I know, because I am a founding member of Independent Ireland... I was on the first executive of Independent Ireland.” 

Aontú requested to correct 'false claims' 

In a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday, a spokesperson for Independent Ireland called on Aontú to “correct false claims regarding party founding”.

“While he [Mr O’Donoghue] did attend some early meetings during the initial scoping and consultation phase, along with many other individuals from different backgrounds, he was not a founder of the party,” they said.

Mattie McGrath then weighed in on the Facebook post, commenting that he had worked “long and hard” for a “new, fresh independent movement to challenge the political system”.

However, he suggested this had been “betrayed by Michael Collins”.

Mr Collins then responded to Mr McGrath’s comment, urging him to “tell the truth”. He said; 

Your own family blocked you from joining Independent Ireland. 

“Do you not remember you asked me to drive up from West Cork to Tipperary, which I did, to plead with your Daughter on your behalf to let you join this party to be told that under no circumstances would your own family ever support you ever again if you joined the party?” 

It is understood that before Independent Ireland was formally registered as a political party in November 2023, several meetings took place with councillors, prospective candidates, and others to assess whether they would be in favour of being in the establishment of a new political party or grouping. 

The Rural Independent Group Against the Carbon Tax — Michael Collins TD, Carol Nolan TD, Mattie McGrath TD, and Richard O'Donoghue TD — spoke to reporters outside Leinster House in April 2022. File picture: Sam Boal /Rollingnews

This included conversations with Mr McGrath, who has been an Independent TD for Tipperary South or Tipperary since 2011. He was first elected to the Dáil in 2007 as a Fianna Fáil TD.

'Conversations with Mattie McGrath'

Mr Collins suggested to the Irish Examiner that he and Mr McGrath had several conversations over several years about establishing a new political party, but this never occurred.

He also said that while Mr O’Donoghue was at initial meetings to discuss the establishment of a new political party, he denied that he was present when Independent Ireland was established.

Mr O’Donoghue told the Irish Examiner he was involved in the early days of Independent Ireland, and that he was “part of the process of drafting the constitution” in September 2023.

“The difference then was that Independent Ireland was always meant to have been an amalgamation of independents,” he said.

“Independents would come together and would unite on key principles, but it would never be a party.” 

He added: “Independent Ireland morphed into something that wasn’t the original vision for Independent Ireland."

The Irish Examiner contacted Mattie McGrath for comment.

• Louise Burne, Political Correspondent