labour split

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday October 14, 2003 09:56 by Ailin - sf

A major split in the Sligo Labour Party is looming following Alderman Jim McGarry’s, a former Fina Gael member, joining the party this week. The possibility now looms of several resignations in protest and there is even the suggestion of a breakaway political group being formed

Two entrenched camps have emerged around Ald. McGarry’s move to the party, confirmed by a vote of the West Ward branch on Monday night, and the bitter feud is expected to erupt over the coming weeks and months.

County Councillor, Brian Scanlon, has already signalled his intention to resign though the party’s most senior figure locally, Ald. Declan Bree, has so far declined to comment publicly on the issue.

The bitterness over Ald. McGarry’s succession into the party has already surfaced with the party’s regional organiser, John Feely, officially declaring that Ald. McGarry is now a member but with the anti-side claiming he has another round of ratification to go.

However, it appears the Labour Party nationally doesn’t view Ald. McGarry’s membership as being in any doubt and party leader, Pat Rabbitte is expected to formally welcome Ald. McGarry into the fold within the next two to three weeks in Sligo.

As revealed in The local press three weeks ago, Ald. McGarry made moves to join the Labour Party following his confirmation to Fine Gael of his resignation from that party after 18 years.

Monday night’s vote was the second time Ald. McGarry’s application to join the party came before the West Ward branch of the Labour Party.

On September 8th it voted by 7 to 4 with one abstention to accept his membership on condition that it be ratified by the Constituency Council which later decided to defer all applications from public representatives until after next year’s Local Elections.

However, the matter came before the West Ward branch meeting again on Monday night where delegates voted by seven to six to re-affirm its decision of September 8th to accept Ald. McGarry’s application.

Monday’s meeting has been described as very heated with some members threatening to resign if Ald. McGarry was accepted into the party.

According to sources the party’s constitution states that only two bodies, the local branch or the national executive can bring new members in with the constituency council having no say in the matter.

However, the Labour Party’s Constituency P.R.O., Tim Mulcahy, said he expected the issue of Ald. McGarry’s application to come back before the next meeting of the constituency council for consideration.

Ald. McGarry is making no comment at present but is said to be very pleased at being accepted into the party and is looking forward to the formal announcement with Pat Rabbitte within the next month.