THREE SIN FEIN COUNCILLORS ARE EXPELLED FROM PARTY
THREE County Wicklow Councillors have been expelled from Sinn Fein.
Councillors John Snell, Gerry O’Neill and Oliver O’Brien from Bray have been involved in a dispute with the party for the past 18 months.
Sinn Fein Chairperson Ireland South Cúige, David Culliane TD, said: ‘Sinn Féin had sought over the past 18 months to resolve a dispute in the Sinn Féin council team on Wicklow County Council.
‘A resolution has not been possible and the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle has moved to expel from the party three councillors who have failed to attend council team meetings over the past 18 months. Sinn Féin is moving on from this dispute and the Council team will continue to deliver for the people of Wicklow.’
Cllr Gerry O’Neill, who has been a party member since 1971, said he only learnt of his expulsion after being contacted by a journalist.
‘It’s a real shock to me the way the news broke. I have been a member of Sinn Fein for the past 46 years so I think someone could have had the courtesy or respect to ring me or let me know in person.’
THREE Wicklow Councillors have been expelled from Sinn Fein.
Councillors John Snell, Gerry O’Neill and Oliver O’Brien have been involved in a dispute with the party for the past 18 months.
Speaking yesterday (Tuesday), Sinn Fein Chairperson Ireland South Cúige, David Culliane TD, said: ‘Sinn Féin had sought over the past 18 months to resolve a dispute in the Sinn Féin council team on Wicklow County Council.
‘A resolution has not been possible and the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle has moved to expel from the party three councillors who have failed to attend council team meetings over the past 18 months. Sinn Féin is moving on from this dispute and the Council team will continue to deliver for the people of Wicklow.’
Cllr Gerry O’Neill, who has been a party member since 1971, said he only learnt of his expulsion after being contacted by a journalist.
‘It’s a real shock to me the way the news broke. I have been a member of Sinn Fein for the past 46 years so I think someone could have had the courtesy or respect to ring me or let me know in person.
‘ To find out that I have been expelled by an RTE journalist, rather than from a party member or official, shows a real lack of class,’ sad Cllr O’Neill.
The three Councillors were stripped of the party-whip in February of this year for failing to support Cllr Nicola Lawless as the party leader in Wicklow County Council.
The three have also been at loggerheads with Deputy John Brady.
In June 2016, the three Sinn Fein councillors abstained from the vote to support Sinn Fein Councillor Michael O’Connor’s nomination for Chairman of Wicklow County Council and Cllr Nicola Lawless as Deputy Chairperson.
Cllr O’Neill is disappointed with the direction the party had taken over recent years.
He said ‘Sinn Fein weren’t exactly the most popular party in the country in the 1970s and 1980s but throughout those years I met nothing but decent people in Sinn Fein.
‘I’m deeply disappointed that things have started to crumble. The use of the party whip is extreme in this county, even on trivial issues.
‘ There is always an urban/rural divide. I am voted for by the people of west Wicklow so I am not going to be corralled into voting on something that would only have benefits for urban areas.’
He has also voiced his determination to contest the next local elections, which will be taking place in 2019.
‘All three of us are determined to run in the next election in two years time, and our expulsion won’t stop us from doing our constituency work.
‘ There are 14 members of the Blessington Cumann and I know they are all with me and have my back,’ said Cllr O’Neill.