First FF resignation over Shannon - just as Baghdad is reduced to rubble

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday April 09, 2003 16:46 by Paul O'Donnell

RTE is reporting that a Fianna Fail councillor in Donegal has resigned from the party in protest at US military use of Shannon. He does so 19 months after Bertie gave the go-ahead for refuelling and overflights and just as Baghdad is reduced to rubble

Here's the RTE story....

A Fianna Fáil Councillor has resigned from the party over continued US military use of Shannon Airport.

Cllr Patrick Danagher, Vice Chairperson of Ballyshannon Town Council, had the party whip removed from him last March after he was convicted for possession of cannabis.

But he has said that was not the reason for his resignation.

Mr Danagher said his cannabis conviction was a personal matter, not a political one.

'The use of Shannon is the straw that broke the camel's back regarding my membership of Fianna Fáil', he said.

'We've seen the removal of the first time buyers' grants, the back to education allowance has been cut and now we have our Government's stance on the war, about which I'm outraged.

'Fianna Fáil has broken a lot of promises since the last election,' he said, 'and we have to show the Government we're not prepared to tolerate this.'

He said, 'It's a complete disgrace that this Government is sitting on the fence on the war issue.

'This is an Anglo-American invasion of Iraq. It's not that I'm pro Saddam Hussein but war will only inflict more misery on the people of Iraq.'