Flannery under “awful pressure� to stand

Flannery under ‘awful pressure’ to stand as Independent


Michael Commins

FORMER Mayo Fine Gael councillor, John Flannery from Charlestown, confirmed yesterday (Monday) that he was under “awful pressure” to stand as an Independent candidate in next month’s local elections. Flannery was edged out for the last seat in the Swinford Electoral Area five years ago, losing out by just a few votes to party colleague Joe Mellett.
“I believe they (Fine Gael) did not want me in the field from the outset. There was a directive issued from party headquarters to the Convention to select just two candidates. They have added Cathal Henry in recent weeks so he is now in the race.
“I am under awful pressure to stand as an Independent. People have been in contact with me from all over the area wondering what I’m doing. I was in Castlebar last week and I collected the nomination papers,” says the man who served on Mayo County Council for 25 years.
Nominations close on Saturday, May 16, and political observers will be keeping a close eye on Flannery to see if he lodges his papers between now and then.