Published: Wednesday, 10th March, 2010 6:00pm

Rumours of Mullingar Fine Gael split strenuously denied

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Rumours of a split among Fine Gael's Mullingar branch members have been strenuously denied, amid reports this week that the party is facing a mass walkout by its supporters in the Mullingar area.

Former Mullingar town councillor Pat Whelan this week resigned from the party following what he described as a "coup" in the branch, at its AGM on Thursday night last.

Taking a number of his closest supporters with him, numbering in total around fifteen, Mr. Whelan expressed his discontent with the party's officer election process.

He forwarded a letter to Fine Gael, Enda Kenny on Monday last to inform him of his decision, with 14 co-signatories.

The former Progressive Democrats politician was soon joined in protest by outgoing chairman, Declan Dunne, who is now understood to be considering a withdrawal of his membership.

The resignations have been followed by reports that yet another high profile Fine Gael member in Mullingar is about to withdraw their support for the party, along with several other disgruntled members.

The crisis comes after Mullingar solicitor Eddie Tynan was elected to succeed Mr. Dunne as chairperson of the local branch at last week's AGM.

Mr. Whelan, the branch's secretary, also lost his bid for re-election, with former election candidate Pat Higgins stepping into the role.

Prior to the meeting, Mr. Whelan informed the AGM's guest chair, Dublin TD Leo Varadkar, of his belief that under party rules, Mr. Tynan was ineligible to stand for office in the party, as he must have attended at least one meeting before being registered as a new member.

Mr. Tynan had joined the Fine Gael days before the AGM, following a six year lapse as a member.

But speaking to the Westmeath Examiner this week, Mr. Whelan said that this

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party law was "overruled" by Milltownpass' John Delamere, a member of the FG National Executive, who was present on the night.

Mr. Delamere told the meeting that the rule cited by Mr. Whelan had never been enforced, and with no objection from the floor, the vote proceeded, with Mr. Tynan duly elected as chair.

Although admitting that he made no objection on the night to "avoid confrontation", Mr. Whelan announced his resignation from Fine Gael this week, asking: "Why have party rules?"

He said that his fellow resigners were also concerned about the fact that sixteen members of the Mullingar branch were informed that they had been "transferred" to other branches in Westmeath, in light of recent electoral boundary changes.

"This transfer caused upset to the members being transferred as they were never notified by Headquarters of their transfer, and neither was the Branch Secretary," Mr. Whelan said.

"There's no consistency in the rules.

"First of all they say some rules aren't enforced, then when it comes to transferring the members, they say they have to do it because it is a party rule to have all branches in line with electoral boundaries."

Declan Dunne, who lost the battle to keep the branch chair, said that the whole situation was "very unorthodox".

He said that he found it strange that wholesale changes would be made at a time when the party had been "completely reinvigorated".

The former Mullingar Town Council election candidate said that he accepted the vote of the members, although admitted he was "unsure as to whether the proper protocols and rules had been adhered to".

"I'm currently discussing my future political role with my friends and family," Mr. Dunne said. "I want to thank all of the senior members of Fine Gael in Westmeath who have asked me to remain in the party."

Unified

Despite the reports of confirmed and rumoured resignations, Fine Gael's Cllr. Peter Burke said that he is confident that the party's Mullingar branch is working as one.

"I would say that the branch is strongly unified," he said. "There are new officers elected, and a fresh new team in place, and I commiserate with anyone who went forward for election, but didn't make it.

"As far as I was concerned, all rules were adhered to on the night, and the election was accepted by everyone present."

The new branch chairman, Eddie Tynan was shocked to learn of Monday's resignations, saying that he was "wholeheartedly congratulated" by everyone at the AGM.

"The issue over my eligibility was raised prior to the vote. Leo Varadkar asked if anyone had an objection, but no members expressed any dissatisfaction, and the election went ahead," Mr. Tynan told the Westmeath Examiner.

"This is an attempt by people disappointed with the vote to try and destabilise the branch.

"I didn't ask for a vote. I didn't ask for a nomination. If anyone objected to me, or if I thought I was going to be the cause of any dissension within the party, then I would have withdrawn my name on the night.

"Some people might think it is a coup, but a number of people turned out on the night with a renewed interest. It's unfortunate that it's being observed like that."

In his summary of Thursday's meeting, Fine Gael Dáil deputy James Bannon described the AGM as having "an air of anticipation and purpose among the members".

He wished the new committee well, and paid tribute to the outgoing officers following a "keenly contested" election.

The new Mullingar FG branch committee is composed of Eddie Tynan (chairman), Pat Higgins (secretary) and joint treasurers Laura Murphy and Mary Mahon.