1988 - Internal Fianna Fail battle for mayor looms

Internal Fianna Fail battle for mayor looms

AN internal battle looms this Wednesday between the Fianna Fail members on Limerick City Council as three of the four councillors bid to become the next Mayor of Limerick. And it could further scar the party in the city.

A Fianna Fail member will be the next Mayor of Limerick if the Fine Gael/Fianna Fail pact, which last year elected Fine Gael’s Alderman Tim Leddin, holds up.

The election of mayor for 1988/1989 will take place in June, and already Cllrs Jack Bourke, John O’Connor and Paddy Madden are jockeying for the post.

All three have expressed an interest in the mayoralty and Cllr Madden is the longest serving Fianna Fail member on the city council, who has yet to hold the post.

Cllr Bourke has been mayor twice, the last time just two years ago; and Cllr O’Connor is a member of the party national executive.

Cllr Larry Cross - the fourth FF member, is not expected to seek the position.

The FG/FF pact has held since June 20, 1985 local Government elections, but because of the strife within Fianna Fail it could dissolve.

At a national level there has been a proposition from Ivan Yates, Fine Gael TD that the PDs and FG should form a pre-general election pact. Should a similar pact emerge on Limerick City Council the combined voting strength of the two main opposition parties would carry the day.

Barrington’s Hospital court battle begins

The decision of Health Minister, Rory O’Hanlon to close Barrington’s Hospital is unconstitutional, it was claimed in the High Court in Dublin this Friday. Counsel for the governors of the hospital contended that the minister breached Articles 15, 41 and 43 of the constitution by his decision to close the hospital.

To close Barrington’s the minister should have sought to repeal the Acts of 1830 and 1835 under which Barrington’s was formally founded, it was stated.

The minister had acted “ultr-vires beyond his powers” when he ordered that the hospital should close from March 31 of this year, the governors maintained.

The governors of Barrington’s are seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the Ministers for Health and Finance, and the attorney general, from closing the hospital. They are also seeking the High Court to order the necessary funds be made available to keep the hospital open for the remainder of the year.

Mr Peter Maguire SC and Mr Hugh O’Neill SC, represent the state. The case is being heard in High Court Number six in the Four Courts before Mr Justice, Declan Costello.

It was scheduled to commence on this Thursday but as another hearing before Mr Justice Costello had not been completed , it was adjourned to this Friday at 11am with the agreement of both parties.

It is expected that it will be a one day hearing. The injunction being sought, if granted, would remain in force until the case came to full hearing before the court.