BREAKING: Limerick council meeting abandoned amid angry exchanges between Mayor John Moran and Priomh-chomhairleoir
Cllr Catherine Slattery of Fianna Fail said she felt 'demeaned' by comment
THE MONTHLY meeting of Limerick City and County Council was abandoned this Monday evening after a clash between Mayor John Moran and the Priomh-chomhairleoir, Cllr Catherine Slattery.
It comes just days after a three-part investigative series by Alan English for The Currency revealed deep dysfunction and conflict at the top of the organisation, including major personality clashes involving the directly elected mayor, councillors and staff of the local authority.
Cllr Slattery, who sits on the right of Mayor Moran at council meetings, exited the meeting at County Hall in Dooradoyle this Monday evening, alleging that he had made a remark which she wasn’t happy with.
She claimed this remark was uttered off-microphone and left her feeling “demeaned”.
It's understood the comment related to the mayoral implementation committee.
Around a minute before this, Mayor Moran gave an overview of this group, which is charged with helping turn his plans into a reality.
He said two councillors sit on this committee.
Cllr Slattery interrupted him to say "one".
"Or two, if they turn up," Mayor Moran continued.
Cllr Slattery again cut in, saying: "Sorry, I want to address something here. Mayor, I already challenged you in the chamber before about smart comments with your mic off. I don't go to these implementation meetings because I feel intimidated by those meetings and I don't feel comfortable. Maybe if I was invited into them with open arms, I would go."
She then called Cllr Bridie Collins, Fianna Fail, to speak on a motion around whether local authority meetings should be streamed and made available for playback.
But after a few words, Cllr Bridie Collins cut her contribution short to note that the priomh-chomhairleoir had left the chamber.
There was initially confusion, with Newcastle West councillor Michael Collins taking her place in chairing the meeting.
“The priomh-chomhairleoir has requested an adjournment. She is obviously visibly upset. I think we should afford her that,” said Cllr Collins.
Fifteen minutes was initially agreed, before another 15 minutes was added to this.
This sparked complaints from some members, including Cllr Maria Donoghue, Independent, who had taken time out of a family holiday to attend, and Aontu’s councillor Sarah Beasley, who said she is battling illness, and was only attending the meeting online as she had a motion to read on the illegal racing of sulkies.
When councillors finally returned, Cllr Slattery requested the mayor repeat the comment he made to her off the microphone.
“This comment made me feel disrespected and demeaned to an extent that I had to abandon my role as priomh-chomhairleoir and leave the chamber,” she said.
In order to proceed with the meeting, Cllr Slattery asked Mayor Moran “to apologise and withdraw your comment.”
In response, Mayor Moran said: “I would ask that we adjourn this meeting for another day. I can feel equally upset, and I do not want accusations put out into the public domain about me or about meetings which I chair which are unsubstantiated. I am going to suggest we terminate this meeting.”
Cllr Slattery voiced her unhappiness at the mayor’s conduct and proposed the adjournment, adding: “A date will be set for the next meeting.”
The meeting in Dooradoyle was into its fifth hour, with 26 of the 34 items on the agenda completed. There had been delays and adjournments earlier on the day on separate issues.
It’s not the first time the pair have clashed since Cllr Slattery, Fianna Fail, was elected to the role of priomh-chomhairleoir last summer.
In November last, she accused Mayor Moran of trying to organise a no-confidence motion against her.
Then, Mayor Moran denied the claim, saying he could not recall speaking to councillors.
Largely symbolic, the job of priomh-chomhairleoir was created as part of the legislation around the creation of Limerick’s directly elected mayor. Their main duty is to chair the meeting, set the agenda and act as voice for the remaining councillors.