MACKEY RESIGNATION MOTION ENDS IN CONFUSION
Mackey resignation motion ends in confusion
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
I will hunt Mackey for the rest of his political life - Lawrence Rush
AN ATTEMPT by local councillor, Johnny McLaughlin (Labour) to oust 32 County Sovereignty Movement member, Francis Mackey, from Omagh District Council, ended in chaos on Tuesday night, following amendments to and confusion about the motion.
The motion called on Cllr Mackey to resign "Before public confidence in Omagh District Council is totally eroded" and to test his mandate in a by-election. Cllr McLaughlin labelled Cllr Mackey as sectarian, said his betrayal knew no bounds, he also claimed he was engaged in fanaticism. Furthermore, he suggested that Mr Mackey did not have a mandate and that his attitude toward the people of Omagh was arrogant.
Cllr McLaughlin had hoped that councillors would present a united front in calling for Mr Mackey's resignation, however, that was not the case.
Sinn Fein immediately called for an amendment to the motion, saying that the party did not believe in witch hunts against any person. Nevertheless, Sinn Fein spokesman, Mickey McAnespie said that Mr Mackey won his seat on a Sinn Fein 'ticket', supporting Sinn Fein and the peace process, but was no longer a member of Sinn Fein and that his present party opposed the Sinn Fein peace strategy and all it stood for. Therefore he said "We call on Cllr Mackey to resign and let a co-option take place with a Sinn Fein member, we do not believe anyone wants a by election at this particular time."
Chief Executive, John McKinney, said that because there was no vacancy at present, the call for a co-option was invalid.
Following discussions, the proposed amendment dropped the reference to the co-option. The amendment was voted on and passed by five votes with twelve abstentions.
Joining discussion on the motion, Cllr Pat McDonnell said the motion displayed 'political stuntery'. He said that what had happened on August 15th was a very serious matter and said that his party had unreservedly condemned it and he reiterated that position.
Expressing concerns as to that part of the proposal which referred to the erosion of confidence in the Council, he remarked "I was not aware that the confidence in the Council had been eroded to any degree. Is the proposer of the motion saying he belongs to a disgraced body?"
Condemning unreservedly those who took lives on August 15th and those who supported them, he went on to acknowledge that the Council did not have the power to debar an elected member from the Chamber.
When the Sinn Fein amendment was passed, Cllr McDonnell said that the original thrust of the motion had been lost and that it had, essentially, become an internal Sinn Fein issue.
Responding to the motion, Cllr Mackey said that it was another strand in the orchestrated campaign of vilification against him. He said the councillors tabling the motion were doing a disservice to the community and the bereaved "It is doing nothing to alleviate the suffering of these people."
Commenting that it would be expedient to move on, he said that he could not sit and be part of the debate any longer. Affirming that his position had not changed since he had first joined the council he added that many questions still torment people's minds and remain unanswered.
"I have difficulty in understanding the reason why this motion came before the Council one must assume it is political point scoring, there is no other valid reason for such a personal attack."
Continuing, he said he believed in peace through British withdrawal, and that certain people were using the issue of the tragedy to divert attention from real issues.
He questioned the legality of the motion and called on officers of the Council to look into the matter and added "I hope that this Council will keep its nerve."
Following the meeting the councillor also stated his intention of remaining as a councillor.
Cllr Gormley, who had seconded the original motion, said that she had nothing to gain in supporting Cllr McLaughlin and stressed that the campaign calling for Cllr Mackey to resign was "people driven".
Lawrence Rush, whose wife died in the bombing or August 15th, and several other members of bereaved families were in the public gallery. Mr Rush said he would not listen to a party political broadcast from Mackey and proceeded to read out an impassioned denunciation of the councillor. He concluded saying he would hunt Mr Mackey for the rest of his political life.
The Ulster Unionist Party had distanced itself from the discussions from the outset. Vice-Chairman. Alan Rainey had asked. "Has this Council any power to ask a councillor to resign?" and asked for the record to show that he did not wish to be party to the debate or take part in any subsequent voting.
Community Independent councillor, Paddy McGowan said he was disappointed at Cllr Mackey's stance, which he said he found it annoying given the fact that Cllr Mackey had given the Council years of service. "He has changed his spots, he is teaming up with a party which has not had an easy or creditable passage in recent months."
DUP spokesman, Drew Baxter, said his party would not be voting on the issue. He said that Sinn Fein was not asking for Cllr Mackey's resignation when he did not condemn Teebane and other atrocities. "The only people who can put Cllr Mackey out are the people of Omagh."
He went on to claim that when the police investigations are concluded they could well show a link between the Teebane bombing and the Market Street bombing.
The amended motion which called on Mr Mackey to resign because he was no longer a member of Sinn Fein was passed by five votes to two with ten abstentions.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Pat McDonnell said that it was regrettable that the spirit of the motion was lost. He said the SDLP was very aware of the sense of betrayal in the community and felt that the proposer and seconder could have shown more skill in the handling of the matter and not allowing it to be transferred into an internal Sinn Fein Debate.
He concluded "The serious issue inherent in the motion remains unresolved and while the issue ended in debacle, the matter is still of deep concern to the public and elected represenatives."
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
I will hunt Mackey for the rest of his political life - Lawrence Rush
AN ATTEMPT by local councillor, Johnny McLaughlin (Labour) to oust 32 County Sovereignty Movement member, Francis Mackey, from Omagh District Council, ended in chaos on Tuesday night, following amendments to and confusion about the motion.
The motion called on Cllr Mackey to resign "Before public confidence in Omagh District Council is totally eroded" and to test his mandate in a by-election. Cllr McLaughlin labelled Cllr Mackey as sectarian, said his betrayal knew no bounds, he also claimed he was engaged in fanaticism. Furthermore, he suggested that Mr Mackey did not have a mandate and that his attitude toward the people of Omagh was arrogant.
Cllr McLaughlin had hoped that councillors would present a united front in calling for Mr Mackey's resignation, however, that was not the case.
Sinn Fein immediately called for an amendment to the motion, saying that the party did not believe in witch hunts against any person. Nevertheless, Sinn Fein spokesman, Mickey McAnespie said that Mr Mackey won his seat on a Sinn Fein 'ticket', supporting Sinn Fein and the peace process, but was no longer a member of Sinn Fein and that his present party opposed the Sinn Fein peace strategy and all it stood for. Therefore he said "We call on Cllr Mackey to resign and let a co-option take place with a Sinn Fein member, we do not believe anyone wants a by election at this particular time."
Chief Executive, John McKinney, said that because there was no vacancy at present, the call for a co-option was invalid.
Following discussions, the proposed amendment dropped the reference to the co-option. The amendment was voted on and passed by five votes with twelve abstentions.
Joining discussion on the motion, Cllr Pat McDonnell said the motion displayed 'political stuntery'. He said that what had happened on August 15th was a very serious matter and said that his party had unreservedly condemned it and he reiterated that position.
Expressing concerns as to that part of the proposal which referred to the erosion of confidence in the Council, he remarked "I was not aware that the confidence in the Council had been eroded to any degree. Is the proposer of the motion saying he belongs to a disgraced body?"
Condemning unreservedly those who took lives on August 15th and those who supported them, he went on to acknowledge that the Council did not have the power to debar an elected member from the Chamber.
When the Sinn Fein amendment was passed, Cllr McDonnell said that the original thrust of the motion had been lost and that it had, essentially, become an internal Sinn Fein issue.
Responding to the motion, Cllr Mackey said that it was another strand in the orchestrated campaign of vilification against him. He said the councillors tabling the motion were doing a disservice to the community and the bereaved "It is doing nothing to alleviate the suffering of these people."
Commenting that it would be expedient to move on, he said that he could not sit and be part of the debate any longer. Affirming that his position had not changed since he had first joined the council he added that many questions still torment people's minds and remain unanswered.
"I have difficulty in understanding the reason why this motion came before the Council one must assume it is political point scoring, there is no other valid reason for such a personal attack."
Continuing, he said he believed in peace through British withdrawal, and that certain people were using the issue of the tragedy to divert attention from real issues.
He questioned the legality of the motion and called on officers of the Council to look into the matter and added "I hope that this Council will keep its nerve."
Following the meeting the councillor also stated his intention of remaining as a councillor.
Cllr Gormley, who had seconded the original motion, said that she had nothing to gain in supporting Cllr McLaughlin and stressed that the campaign calling for Cllr Mackey to resign was "people driven".
Lawrence Rush, whose wife died in the bombing or August 15th, and several other members of bereaved families were in the public gallery. Mr Rush said he would not listen to a party political broadcast from Mackey and proceeded to read out an impassioned denunciation of the councillor. He concluded saying he would hunt Mr Mackey for the rest of his political life.
The Ulster Unionist Party had distanced itself from the discussions from the outset. Vice-Chairman. Alan Rainey had asked. "Has this Council any power to ask a councillor to resign?" and asked for the record to show that he did not wish to be party to the debate or take part in any subsequent voting.
Community Independent councillor, Paddy McGowan said he was disappointed at Cllr Mackey's stance, which he said he found it annoying given the fact that Cllr Mackey had given the Council years of service. "He has changed his spots, he is teaming up with a party which has not had an easy or creditable passage in recent months."
DUP spokesman, Drew Baxter, said his party would not be voting on the issue. He said that Sinn Fein was not asking for Cllr Mackey's resignation when he did not condemn Teebane and other atrocities. "The only people who can put Cllr Mackey out are the people of Omagh."
He went on to claim that when the police investigations are concluded they could well show a link between the Teebane bombing and the Market Street bombing.
The amended motion which called on Mr Mackey to resign because he was no longer a member of Sinn Fein was passed by five votes to two with ten abstentions.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Pat McDonnell said that it was regrettable that the spirit of the motion was lost. He said the SDLP was very aware of the sense of betrayal in the community and felt that the proposer and seconder could have shown more skill in the handling of the matter and not allowing it to be transferred into an internal Sinn Fein Debate.
He concluded "The serious issue inherent in the motion remains unresolved and while the issue ended in debacle, the matter is still of deep concern to the public and elected represenatives."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1206
Published Date: 05-Nov-98
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