Navan cllr withdraws support for fgind power deal

Independent councillor Wayne Forde has resigned from the Fine Gael-Independent alliance which holds power at Meath County Council.

His resignation means that both the controlling and the opposition sides are now evenly divided on the council.

Fine Gael and independent councillors who have an agreement with them total 20 on the council, while Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and independent Cllrs Forde and Joe Bonner now also total 20.

In theory, this means that if the two independent councillors outside the agreement, Fianna Fail, and Sinn Fein all voted together on an issue, they would tie the vote. It leaves the controlling side weakened and depending on the casting vote of the cathaoirleach if a vote is tied.

On LMFM radio last week, Cllr Forde said he felt totally ashamed and embarrassed for voting for water charges and has apologised to his constituents.

He was referring to a vote at the October meeting of Meath County Council, where Sinn Fein had proposed a motion opposing the introduction of water charges. Cllr Forde supported the governing party in the vote.

The Independent councillor says he changed his position, having attended a public meeting in the Newgrange Hotel to discuss the Right 2 Water rally that's planned in Navan this Saturday 1st November. He says he'll be giving the demonstration his full support.

In his letter to Independent members' chief whip, Cllr Brian Fitzgerald, copied to local media,  Cllr Forde wrote:

“Hi Brian, and to my fellow former independent colleagues, I am resigning from the independent alliance, with Fine Gael, on Meath county council with immediate effect. Thanking you, all for been so good, and kind to me, over the past few months. All the best, cllr Wayne Forde independent councillor for Meath.”