Westport Cumann want Flynn

Westport Cumann want Flynn

Neill O’Neill

THE Westport Fianna Fáil cumann has become the first unit of the organisation to call for a reinstatement of Deputy Beverley Flynn to party membership as soon as possible.
At a meeting of the cumann in Hotel Clew Bay on Tuesday night last, called to review the outcome of the General Election, a motion calling for Deputy Flynn’s readmission to the party was unanimously adopted on a show of hands. It was opposed by Cllr Frank Chambers who was at the meeting in his capacity as a public representative but who is not a member of the cumann.
The Mayo News understands that Cllr Chambers argued that the question of Deputy Flynn’s return to the party should not be considered before October when RTÉ will drop all claims for legal costs against her if an agreed settlement of €1.2 million – less than half of what was sought – is paid by mid-August. Having agreed to pay this amount, Deputy Flynn decided to drop her constitutional challenge against current bankruptcy laws.
At the cumann meeting, which was very well-attended, members expressed confidence that Deputy Flynn (pictured) would honour her part of the agreement and that there was no further impediment to her rejoining the party.
David Reidy, Chairperson of the cumann, said there had been a long and constructive debate on the issue and it was very clear that once the legal costs question was out of the way, members were anxious to see Deputy Flynn back in the Fianna Fáil fold.
“Everybody was given a chance to speak and there was no rancour of any kind at the meeting,” he said.
The motion unanimously adopted by the meeting stated that with a view to healing divisions within the Fianna Fáil party in Mayo and in order to put strategies in place for the 2009 local elections, the Westport cumann was calling on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the party’s national executive and the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party to facilitate the early return of Deputy Flynn to party membership.
The motion was strongly supported by Cllr Margaret Adams who told The Mayo News that Fianna Fáil in Mayo could ill-afford to have somebody of the calibre of Deputy Flynn outside its ranks. She was an immensely talented person and, together with Deputy Dara Calleary, she could play a part in revitalising the party in Mayo. This was something that was very badly needed in advance of local elections in 2009. Cllr Adams’ views received strong backing from several cumann members.
It is now expected that the other units of the organisation across Mayo will follow the lead given by the Westport cumann and call for Deputy Flynn’s readmission to the party.
The Mayo News also understands that efforts are to be made to commence a healing process between party members and dissidents in the Castlebar area. While it is acknowledged that divisions are deep, party personnel are of the view that a platform should be given to members to air their views on the state of the organisation in the county town.
“We can’t ignore the fact that divisions exist and we have to do everything we can to heal them. We are hoping that people can put the past behind them and, from here on, work for the betterment of the party and the county. There is much to be done and we are well aware of the fact that unity is strength. We are also mindful of the fact that we have to prepare and organise for the forthcoming local elections,” a spokesperson said.