There were no surprises as this morning’s Annual General Meeting of the new Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District got off to a fiery start.
From the outset, Cllr Frank McBrearty strongly objected to the fact that the meeting was held online, and not in the council chamber.
Outgoing Leas Cathaoirleach, Cllr Patrick McGowan, opened the AGM as the outgoing Cathaoirleach, Liam Doherty, had retired.
Cllr McBrearty said it was ‘not lawful’ to hold the meeting online, adding that he wanted a ‘full, legal explanation’ before a new Cathaoirleach and Leas Cathaoirleach could be proposed.
“This is not legal and I want an explanation that will stand up to law. I need an answer before a Cathaoirleach and Leas Cathaoirleach are proposed. I’m not going to stand for bully boy tactics.”
While noting the Raphoe councillor’s concerns, Cllr McGowan proceeded to mute all participants, asking them to raise their hands to nominate representatives for both roles.
Cllr Gary Doherty (SF) was subsequently elected as Cathaoirleach with Fine Gael’s Cllr Martin Harley as Leas Cathaoirleach.
Cllr McBrearty again raised the issue of the meeting being held online.
On taking the chair, Cllr Doherty told Cllr McBrearty that he would receive a response to his question from the council director after the meeting.
The Independent responded: “This is a dictatorship. You (Cllr Doherty) can run to the guards and make accusations against me.”
As Cllr McBrearty continued to protest, Cllr Doherty quoted from Standing Orders that he could be asked to leave the meeting for ‘disorderly conduct.’
After further protestations, and warnings from Cllr Doherty, Cllr McBrearty said he would leave the meeting as he felt it was not ‘democratic.’
“This is an illegal meeting and I’m objecting to what is going on here,” Cllr McBrearty said.
Referring to ongoing matters before the courts, he added: “We will see what you (Cllr Doherty) are made of in the criminal courts. I’ll withdraw from the meeting because this is not a democratic process.”
Addressing the media, the new Cathaoirleach said he hoped ‘what went on’ this morning was not reported as ‘general disorder.’
“The disorderly conduct is coming from one member. This is absolutely ridiculous that we have to put up with this for the next five years – absolutely ridiculous,” Cllr Doherty said
He went on to accuse Cllr McBrearty of ‘gaslighting’ by claiming he was being bullied by other councillors.
The incoming Leas Cathaoirleach, Cllr Harley, concurred with Cllr Doherty.
“I’ll second that and it’s sickening that we’ve five years of this ahead of us and the people of the MD will not be properly represented. Meetings are held online because of one person.”
He concluded by saying: “We want to work as cohesively as we can. I don’t want what we had earlier and don’t want to be sick to the stomach to think that I have to go to meetings and deal with this.”
Cllr Doherty said it was a ‘great honour’ to have been elected as Leas Cathaoirleach and that he was looking forward to working with all the elected members of the next five years.
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