Call for unity as Cork Fine Gael election candidate move sparks protest

A Fine Gael election candidate whose selection was dictated by party headquarters has called on local members to get behind the candidates selected, after some party stalwarts reportedly resigned in protest at the directive.

Those reported resignations followed fractious scenes at Tuesday night’s Fine Gael Cork South Central selection convention, which ultimately saw the selection of city councillor Shane O’Callaghan and county councillor Úna McCarthy.

The meeting, which was the party’s first contested convention in the constituency in 27 years, was necessitated by the decision of former tánaiste Simon Coveney not to stand at the next election.

Angry interventions

There were angry interventions from the floor when the meeting chairwoman, minister of state Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, read out a party directive decreeing that a candidate from the Carrigaline Municipal District must be selected.

This meant the only Carrigaline candidate, Ms McCarthy, who was co-opted onto Cork County Council last October and re-elected last month, was a certainty to be selected regardless of the vote.

In the event, based on a tally, Mr O’Callaghan topped the poll with 124 votes.

Senator Jerry Buttimer received 67 votes, Des Cahill 38 votes, and John Mullins 31 votes.

Ms McCarthy received 17 votes, despite members having been told she would be selected without a vote.

Unity

After the convention, a party source told The Echo that “longstanding members” had sent letters of resignation in protest at the directive. However, Ms McCarthy has now urged party members to unite behind the selected candidates.

“I think it’s important that everybody comes together,” she said.

“Our aim here is to get two candidates elected for Fine Gael in Cork South Central, and we can only do that with unity.”

She added that it was “perfectly normal” for the party to issue a directive to a selection convention.

“It’s not unexpected that candidates running should represent appropriate regional balance, [for instance] one in the city, one in the county,” she said.

“I’m just concentrating on having as good a campaign as possible and meeting as many people as I can.”

Fine Gael was asked for comment.