COUNTY COUNCILLOR WALKS OUT OF MEETING IN PROTEST
CLLR Tom Fortune removed himself from Monday’s meeting of Wicklow County Council after he was refused permission to make a statement.
Cllr Fortune had attempted to make a statement at a special council meeting last Tuesday but was informed that it was a single issue meeting on housing only.
At the start of Monday’s meeting, Cllr Fortune referenced the 2014 council AGM and ‘organisational corruption’ when he was cut off by the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Pat Fitzgerald.
The Cathaoirleach maintained that he had informed Cllr Fortune over the phone on Friday that he would not take the statement at Monday’s meeting.
‘Give me the same respect I did when you were chairman,’ said Cllr Fitzgerald.
Cllr Fortune said: ‘If you won’t let me participate then, under protest, I am going to leave the meeting.’
He then departed from the council chamber for the remainder of the meeting.
Cllr Fortune then released a statement after the meeting had concluded, accusing the Council Executive of trying to muzzle him.
‘ Today at the April meeting of the council I again tried to make a statement to the council, which as a public representative is my democratic right to do so.’
Cllr Fortune added that he had always found Cllr Fitzgerald a ‘fair’ chairman and could only conclude that the Council Executive were responsible for trying to silence him.
‘I have taken the time to attend some recent court cases and I have expressed concerns as far back as 2012/2013. All of this is a matter of public record.
‘ The only conclusion that I can therefore come to is that there needs to be an urgent inquiry into the way Wicklow County Council runs its business,’ said Cllr Fortune.
Wicklow County Council declined to comment, adding that it was a matter for the cathaoirleach.