Councillor disappointed after being overlooked for election

A NORTHSIDE councillor has expressed disappointment after being overlooked by his party for the upcoming Dublin Fingal by-election.

Fianna Fáil has selected Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee to contest the seat vacated by Clare Daly, a decision that has angered Cllr Darragh Butler who represents the Swords Local Electoral Area (LEA).

Cllr Butler said he was extremely disappointed to discover that Fianna Fáil headquarters had “unilaterally decided on who should be our party’s candidate for the upcoming Dublin Fingal by-election”.

“I honestly believe that having achieved such a massive vote in the council elections last May, getting elected for a third time and having served on Fingal County Council for 12 plus years, that as a Swords-based candidate that I am best placed to win the by-election and to replace Clare Daly in Dáil Éireann,” he said.  

“Once again it is extremely annoying and frustrating that I am again not being given a fair shot at putting my name before a selection convention as I have absolutely no doubt that the members of Fianna Fáil Dublin Fingal would have selected me as their candidate in a fair and open convention. 

“At this stage I really have to wonder what more I have to do and how much longer that I can put up with this.”

Cllr Butler, a former Mayor Fingal, was co-opted to Fingal County Council for the Swords LEA in June 2007 and won re-election in 2009, 2014 and most recently again in May 2019.

In May, he topped the poll in a highly competitive field with 2,298 first preference votes (19 percent) and a massive 994 votes ahead of second place.

Senator Clifford-Lee is the spokesperson on Justice and Equality, Children and Youth Affairs in Seanad Éireann, where she also holds the post of Deputy Leader.

“This by-election is a really important opportunity to make it clear to the Government that it is not delivering for the people and communities of Dublin Fingal across a wide range of areas,” she said.

“I am honoured to be given the opportunity to make that case on behalf of the party. If elected, I will continue to work hard for the people of north county Dublin, fighting for affordable accessible childcare, improved public transport, access to housing, investment in education and dealing with the threat of crime.”

Senator Clifford-Lee said she is acutely aware of the issues people want to see addressed in the community right now.

“I look forward to continuing to work with our communities across the constituency to meet with people and make the Fianna Fáil case for change,” she added.

Fianna Fáil did not respond for comment at the time of going to press.