Cork County Councillor leaves Fianna Fáil; will run in local elections as Independent candidate

Councillor William O’Leary has declared that he is resigning from the Fianna Fáil party and indicated that he is going to run in the coming local elections as an independent, it has emerged.

The Watergrasshill based elected representative made his announcement on Facebook on Monday and disclosed that he had been ‘disgruntled’ with his party for some time.

“In my five years as a county councillor, I have to my disappointment observed the failure of my party to listen to the ordinary people on the everyday issues and struggles that they face and to myself as a councillor (on the bottom of the political ladder),” said Cllr O’Leary in his statement.

He said that he would have voted against Fianna Fáil going into the current coalition Government arrangement with Fine Gael and the Green Party. “In my view, many of these concerns have now materialised,” he said. “Since the foundation of the state while at different times either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael have governed this country.

“What makes a good government is an even stronger opposition. That is what keeps a government on its toes.

“In my view when these parties joined in coalition, strong opposition was lost. This left less pressure on Government to listen to the needs of the ordinary people.

“I cannot in good conscience put myself forward as a Fianna Fáil Candidate when I know my heart and soul wouldn’t be in it. I feel this would be dishonest with constituents and dishonest with the party itself which would lead me just going through the motions for the next number of years. This is not what the electorate vote a candidate in for.” 

He suggested that the party that he had stood for and been elected to represent in the 2019 election had lost its identity and had abandoned ‘core values’. 

“There are many good people in Fianna Fáil, both elected and ordinary supporters, who say this to me regularly,” he said.

“I have agonised long and hard over the last number of months about how I can best represent those who elect me,” he said. 

“I have finally taken the very difficult decision that I must move forward as an Independent candidate in the forthcoming elections.” 

Cllr Seamus McGrath, Fianna Fáil leader of Cork County Council said: "I am very sorry that William has decided to leave the party. I've always had a good working relationship with William and on a personal level I'm disappointed with his decision. He made a significant contribution as a Fianna Fáil councillor over the years and I wish him well for the future. 

"As a team of Fianna Fáil councillors on Cork County Council, we will continue to work hard on representing our constituents across the county and working with all elected members across the Chamber in progressing key issues."

Fianna Fáil have been contacted for comment.