A alleged dispute between a local TD and a Fianna Fail Councillor that resulted in the resignation of the deputy from the party, should have been handled better.
That's the view of Fianna Fail Member and Leitrim County Councillor Paddy O'Rourke following Marc MacSharry's resignation from the party.
The Sligo-Leitrim TD has quit Fianna Fail, alleging the Taoiseach used a complaint about him for national political gain.
Deputy MacSharry confirmed his resignation in a statement this morning, saying Micheál Martin failed to allow due process in a bullying claim made against him by a local Councillor.
He was on the verge of being re-admitted to Fianna Fail a few weeks ago when the bullying claim emerged, following his resignation of the party whip over the 2021 Katherine Zappone Controversy.
Councillor O'Rourke believes the party has lost a valuable member:
I think its very much to be regretted,
The manner in which this has come about with the local Councillor, the alleged dispute that occurred between them or what ever, the differences of opinion, it could have been handled much better.
In most organisations there is an effective system for dealing with grievances that exist or arise between fellow members or work colleagues, call them what you will.
But it doesn't seem that it was applied here and it has cost us a deputy.
