POPULAR FIanna Fail councillor David McGuinness believes he was
“shafted
? by a core bunch of Fianna Fail members at last week’s party convention to select a candidate for the next general election.
Cllr McGuinness made it to the last count of the Dublin West by-elections in 2011 and 2014, despite his party’s poor showing in national polls, and had been tipped by pundits to be a strong contender in the next general election.
However, party members opted to select medical student Jack Chambers, who romped home to take a seat in the Castleknock ward in last year’s local elections on the first count.
Cllr McGuinness represents the Mulhuddart ward, home to large numbers of socially disadvantaged voters, and he feels that last week’s vote highlighted a class divide within the party.
“Standing up for the party in the bad times and doing well didn’t stand to me; I’m just on the wrong side of the tracks and that’s how I feel.
“I’ve stayed quiet about it but I’ve suffered internally within Fianna Fail in relation to a class divide.
“I genuinely felt I could lead the party in a new direction back down to grass roots, working class politics and I really espoused that and stood out when I tried to take on issues like the water charges and the property tax.
“I really tried to put them to the fore but it’s just not the politics internally of Fianna Fail in Dublin West, and I suspect wider afield.
?
Cllr McGuinness says he tried to convince the party to support him at the convention on the back of his strong showing in the by-elections, but his pitch fell on deaf ears.
“I told them:
‘I didn’t turn my back on you so don’t do it to me now’. In the by-election there’s only one seat but there’ll be four seats in the general election.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bitter in defeat; I just felt this was one thing they could have done for me.
?
The future for Cllr McGuinness is now uncertain, but he admits his time with Fianna Fail is most likely coming to an end. However, he believes he could struggle as an independent due to a lack of resources.
“I propped up the party in parts of Dublin West,
? he told Northside People.
“Against people’s better judgement I put my own name on the line and my family’s name on the line. I’m not going to be doing that again.
“What I have been feeling internally is now fully exposed externally. I wasn’t just beaten at the convention, I believe I was shafted at the convention.
“I’m still reeling from the result so I’ll have to think about it. A lot of people have given me their views; a lot of party members are deeply upset and felt I was treated badly so I just have to take stock.
“I represent the people of Dublin 15, I don’t represent Fianna Fail. I take guidance from the people.
Up to 400 party members and supporters attended the selection convention at the Carlton Hotel in Tyrrelstown, which was chaired by Senator Darragh O’Brien.
Cllr Chambers said he was
“deeply honoured
? to be chosen by Fianna Fáil delegates to contest what he described as
“this key constituency
?.
“David and I ran a respectful and professional campaign,
? he added.
“We treated this process with the seriousness it deserves and I now look forward to working with the entire organisation in this constituency to bring our message to every voter and every community.
“This was a highly competitive selection process which is testament to the levels of energy within Fianna Fáil in this constituency.
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