Inishowen Councillor Bernard McGuinness has accused Sinn Fein of being “disgraceful” over what he claims is an insult to the people of the peninsula last year.
The Culdaff-based publican hit out at the party’s representatives over the Cockhill Bridge opening ceremony.
“They (Sinn Fein) whinge and go on all the time,” McGuinness told supporters at his party’s North Inishowen Selection Convention in Ballyliffin on Monday night.
“When I stood up in Donegal County Council in 2014 and 2015 and told the council that Minister Joe McHugh would deliver a new bridge at Cockhill they (Sinn Fein) laughed at me.
“And of course Joe delivered the project. And when our Taoiseach came to Inishowen to open the Cockhill Bridge not one of them bothered to turn up; they couldn’t find any of their 9 elected members in Donegal nor any party members to be there. It was disgraceful behaviour.
“Cockhill Bridge was the main issue when I came into politics. Lorries and cars were getting stuck there. I predicted we’d fix it in Government and we did. Sinn Fein boycotting that event was an absolute disgrace; they were disgraceful that day – and they did not serve the people of Inishowen that day.”
Cllr McGuinness was first elected in 1979 and has served as a councillor for 40 years.
Minister McHugh and European election candidate Maria Walsh were among those at the convention to see McGuinness selected to run unopposed for Fine Gael in May’s local elections.
Minister McHugh praised Cllr McGuinness’s 40 years of service to Inishowen.
“He has worked tirelessly on so many issues over the years, for farmers, for victims of the Inishowen floods, for those affected by Mica, for local people across Inishowen – and of course he was the voice behind calls for a new bridge at Cockhill,” said the Donegal TD.
“I am delighted that Bernard is running again for council as he brings a wealth of experience to the role which is unmatched in this county.”