Fitzgerald elected Cathaoirleach of Ratoath MD amid interventions from Cllr Everard

Report Paul Murphy
The annual general meeting of the Ratoath Municipal District of Meath County Council opened on a controversial on Wednesday when Independent Cllr Yvonne Everard raised questions about the political pact controlling the council. Outgoing Cathaoirleach Independent Cllr Nick Kilian had just announced declared the opening of nominations for the election of a Cathaoirleach for the coming year and had proposed the name of Independent Cllr Brian Fitzgerald followed by a seconding of the proposal by Fianna Fail’s Cllr Caroline O’Reilly when an issue arose.

Cllr Fitzgerald’s nomination was voted on and Brian Fitzgerald’s nomination was supported by Cllrs Fionnan Blake, Nick Killian, Maria Murphy, Gerry O’Connor and Caroline O’Reilly. When Cllr Everard was called upon to vote she said she would be voting for Cllr Fitzgerald but said that there had been a pact in the MD that included former Cllr Gillian Toole (since elected to the Dail) and that she had replaced Ms Toole on the council. She said she felt there was very little respect that she had not been consulted about the pact.

Cllr Killian said that that was not the place to have that discussion and he was not going to allow it to be discussed. Cllr Murphy said it was not a matter for the meeting. When Cllr Everard insisted it was a matter for the meeting Cllr Killian said it was not and ruled out further discussion. Cllr Blake suggested that the matter could be discussed outside the meeting “maybe not today but on another day”.

Cllr Killian told Cllr Everard that he was sorry about the way she felt but was not going to allow discussion. The voting process than continued and Cllr Everard said she was voting for Cllr Fitzgerald but wanted her earlier remarks noted. Cllr Fitzgerald voted for himself and this made his election unanimous.

The election for the post of Leas Cathaoirleach then followed and Sinn Fein’s Cllr Blake was proposed by Cllr Killian and seconded by Cllr Everard. Cllr Murphy proposed Cllr O’Connor for the post. Cllr Blake was supported by Cllrs Everard, Fitzgerald, Killian, O’Reilly and his own voted and Cllr O’Connor was supported by Cllr Murphy and his own vote. Cllr Blake was duly elected.