'Semi-literate, ill-mannered, evil, garbage, vermin'

Mullingar mayor Ruth Illingworth has hit back hard at criticism levelled at her by local republicans following recent comments she made about a Republican Sinn Féin protest in the town centre.In a sensational outburst at the February meeting of Mullingar Town Council on Tuesday night, the chairperson described a letter written to the body castigating her remarks at its January meeting as the "semi-literate" work of "vermin".Last month, Cllr. Mick Dollard (Labour) criticised an unnamed political grouping for using the Market Square for a political protest just before Christmas, without asking for permission from the Town Clerk.The remarks were made during the course of a discussion about a letter from Pastor Adebamigbe Adefolalu, of the Mullingar-based Redeemed Christian Church of God, seeking permission to use the square for evangelising activities.Cllr. Illingworth (Fine Gael) then weighed in, describing the republican protest - which called for the release of political prisoners in the Six Counties - as "aggressive" and "disturbing".She also underlined that there is no such thing as political prisoners in Ireland.The comments raised the ire of local republicans, particularly one anonymous activist, whom Cllr. Illingworth said she believed to be a member of Republican Sinn Féin.The activist wrote a letter to the town council citing an article in a recent edition of the Westmeath Examiner, which carried Cllr. Illingworth's comments.The letter singled out Cllrs. Illingworth and Dollard for criticism."I would like to take this opportunity to address your council on the fact that no person at the recent political picket in Mullingar was either aggressive or disturbing to anyone that passed our picket," the writer said, explaining that the protesters peacefully held banners and handed out leaflets.The anonymous scribe said that the protesters were highlighting the fact that "there are political prisoners in Ireland, both in Portlaoise and Maghaberry in the occupied six counties".The letter also criticised Cllr. Illingworth for her recent decision to present her Chairperson's allowance to the Royal British Legion in Ireland, an organisation which provides financial, emotional and social support to veterans of the British armed forces."We will be holding our political picket in Mullingar again in our own time and we will also be highlighting the fact that taxpayers' moneys [sic] are going to a foreign army," the letter continued."We will also be holding a picket at one of your town council meetings in our own time of chosing [sic]."I'm sure this will not be read out at your town council meeting as you will probably be too ashamed in front of the honest members of that grouping that do work for the people of Grange and Dalton Park," it concluded.Nevertheless, Cllr. Illingworth read the letter aloud at Tuesday's meeting."The only comment I wish to make is that it is the ultimate impertinence to send an anonymous letter," she said.The chairperson went on to describe the writer(s) as "semi-literate, ill-mannered wasters" who are "unelected", and "not in a position to speak for the people of Grange and D'Alton Park".Furthermore, she said that she was "proud" to have given a donation to the Royal British Legion.Although accepting that the recent protest was a peaceful one, Cllr. Illingworth said that this "does not matter" in light of recent incidents in Northern Ireland, such as those which took place in Newry earlier this week."These people can only be described as little vermin," she intoned, describing her detractors as "evil" and "cowards"."You do not intimidate me or any members of Mullingar Town Council, and you do not speak for Mullingar. As far as I'm concerned, you're just garbage," Cllr. Illingworth concluded.Cllr. Dollard ever so slightly distanced himself from the rhetoric. "As far as I know, there are bye laws in place about the use of the Market Square," he said. "It doesn't matter what type of group they are, they have to communicate with the Town Clerk first."To do otherwise shows no respect for the Square."Cllr. Dollard said that he resented the fact that a political group would refer to the Grange and D'Alton Park areas in the letter."I can say for certain that none of them are working down there at 11 or 12 o'clock at night," he said.