Bree unlikely to withdraw remarks despite the threat of expulsion from party

sligo | housing | other press Tuesday June 28, 2005 19:36 by M. Allen - LP

Excerpted from The Sligo Champion

AS he prepares to face an internal disciplinary hearing into his criticism of two Labour Party colleagues over their failure to support a Traveller accommodation plan, the Mayor of Sligo, Councillor Declan Bree has indicated that he intends to stand by his controversial remarks.

The enquiry has been sparked by a complaint from the Sligo/ Leitrim Constituency Executive over criticism made by Clr. Bree of his party colleagues, Jim McGarry and Veronica Cawley in The Sligo Champion, but this morning the Mayor strongly hinted that he has no intention of withdrawing the remarks, commenting that he "doesn't compromise on matters of principle."

Complaints body

The Mayor could be expelled by a special five person complaints committee to be set up later this week, after Labour General Secretary, Mr. Mike Allen, ruled the complaint from Constituency General Secretary, Peigin Doyle, was valid and forwarded it for full hearing.

The latest twist in a simmering internal Labour Party row erupted after Clr. Bree described as "disgraceful" the decision of Clr. McGarry and Clr. Cawley to vote against the proposed Traveller Accommodation Programme.

They joined with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail members of the Borough Council in rejecting the plan from County Manager, Hubert Kearins by seven votes to four. Clr. Bree and the three Sinn Fein Councillors voted in favour.

"How can anyone who claims to share the values of the Labour movement, or how can anyone with an ounce of compassion tolerate such a situation ?" Clr. Bree asked in his interview with The Sligo Champion.

At a Labour meeting in Sligo at the end of February, a motion was adopted calling to Clr. Bree to apologise to his two party colleagues, but he refused this request.

'No compromise'

Responding to confirmation that a disciplinary hearing was now to take place, the Mayor said this morning that it was a matter of public record that he described the decision by Councillors to vote down the Traveller Accommodation Programme as "disgraceful."

"I expressed my views as Mayor and indeed as a life long socialist activist. The people of this community know me. They know where I stand on issues and they know that I don't compromise on matters of principle," he added.

"The complaints procedure is an internal matter for the Party and I do not wish to comment on it at this time other than to say I am disappointed," Clr. Bree concluded.

The Labour General Secretary notified the Mayor and the Party's National Executive Committee of his decision to deem the complaint from the Sligo/ Leitrim Executive as valid and the decision to proceed to establish a Complaints Committee composed of five persons selected from the Complaints Panel of thirteen members appointed by the N.E.C.

It is understood the Committee has the power to decide to dismiss the complaint, to note it, but take no action, to suspend Clr. Bree from Party membership, or to expel him from membership.

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The Sligo Champion