Newly-elected county councillor Frank McBrearty has confirmed to Donegal Daily that he is considering his position within the Fine Gael party.
Sources very close to the Raphoe politician yesterday told us that he was on the verge of quitting the party just three days after the local elections.
Some misinformed commentators dismissed the story on social media as they could not verify it.
However, last night Cllr McBrearty confirmed to us on the record that he is due to meet with senior Fine Gael members to discuss his future.
He said “I can confirm that I am seriously considering my position within the party. Somebody within my inner circle spoke to Donegal Daily yesterday because they are disgusted by the way I am being treated.
“Today I want to confirm the story. I feel I am being bullied and treated atrociously by certain members of the party.
“I want unity in this party but I have been told now that I was not wanted and that I was never wanted by certain people.
“We have been Fine Gael people for many years back to when people like Jim Higgins took up our case in the 1990s when we were being wrongly accused by the Gardai.
“Fine Gael took up our case and I’m a proud member of the Fine Gael party.”
He said he was sorry that people like Minister Joe McHugh had become involved in the controversy.
He added “It is a crying shame that Joe McHugh is stuck in the middle of this. He endorsed me because he knows what I can do.
“I have not spoken to him directly about this because he is in America but I know that he is aware of it. I will speak to him about it when he comes back,” he added.
He added that it was a matter of public record that councillors Martin Harley and Jimmy Kavanagh did not want him in the party.
The 50-year-old businessman said that if he quits Fine Gael he will either stand as an Independent or will co-opt a member of his family to the council seat.
He added “Nobody will get my seat only a member of my family because it’s a McBrearty seat.
“They may try to take it off me but I will fight them through the courts for it.”
He added that he never wanted to top the poll in last weekend’s election and denied that his vote had fallen.
He said this was a strategic plan which almost brought three seats to Fine Gael in the Lifford/Stranorlar area but said that Cllr Martin Harley’s transfers were a “disgrace.”
Asked what would change his mind about resigning from the party, Cllr McBrearty said he wanted unity among the elected members of Fine Gael.
“There is no unity at present and there is a concerted effort to get me out by certain people.
“I have been bullied and my mental health has suffered. Some people within this party have treated my family atrociously and I will not allow that to continue,” he said.
Tags:
