COUNCILLOR Frank McBrearty has launched an explosive tirade after a motion he tabled was withdrawn without him being officially notified.
The Raphoe independent rose to his feet during a council meeting this week to loudly berate Cathaoirleach Nicholas Crossan and Director of Services Joe Peoples.
In a diatribe that lasted several minutes, Councillor McBrearty used the ‘f’ word twice as he made his feelings abundantly clear on the decision to remove his motion from the day’s agenda.
Amid protestations, Mr Peoples explained that the motion had been removed due its ‘unbecoming’ nature.
The Local Government Act states that any notice of motion which is obviously out of order or contains unbecoming expressions may be expunged from the agenda by order of the cathaoirleach.
In any case where a motion is deemed out of order, the meetings administrator is duty bound to communicate with the cathaoirleach and to the member tabling the motion.
Councillor McBrearty claimed at no point was he notified of the decision to strike out his submission.
The motion asked that council contact the Garda Commissioner and Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan to ask that they take disciplinary action against An Garda Síochána for “abusing their powers” in Donegal. It centred on an incident last month during which a relative of Mr McBrearty’s was fined by gardai.
“This was a bone fide motion and I want an explanation,” a clearly incensed Councillor McBrearty told the cathaoirleach.
“I have been accused of being unbecoming but I can argue here now that there was nothing illegal in it. This is about gardai abusing their powers and let me tell you, I am one man who is not ******* frightened of the gardai. They are abusing their powers all over this country.”
Joe Peoples said that after considering the motion, he had written to Mr McBrearty to explain that he felt it was in breach of standing orders.
Mr Peoples said he also made contact with the cathaoirleach to explain the situation. Ultimately though the decision to withdraw was his own, Mr Peoples admitted.
“You illegally withdrew my motion,” Frank McBrearty shouted.
“You should have contacted me so I could take the appropriate action to stop you. I told you this was personal Joe.
“I’m not scared of the gardai. I’m the only man whoever taught them a lesson and they need a ******* lesson.”
Amid calls from some councillors for the meeting to be adjourned, Councillor McBrearty said he had had enough.
“This place is a waste of time. A wee club, that’s all it is,” he added on his way out.
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