Donegal County Council has gained the go-ahead to launch legal proceedings against Cllr Frank McBrearty Jnr.
The council is to bring the Independent councillor to the High Court regarding his “wholly improper campaign of harassment and intimidation against members of the Council and its administrative staff.”
Cllr McBrearty was not in attendance at today’s Plenary council meeting when a recorded vote was taken by members on the action.
The Council Solicitors, VP McMullin wrote to Cllr Frank Mc Brearty on 12th July 2022, the day after he was ordered to leave a special meeting of the council for disrespecting the Chair. The letter referenced several serious matters and sought a number of undertakings by 5.00pm today, Monday 18th July.
In order to be ready to commence the legal proceedings, the executive took a vote on a resolution, which authorises the Chief Executive to commence proceedings in the High Court by the council against Cllr McBrearty “seeking all appropriate orders required, seeking damages for defamation, prohibiting from repeating defamatory statements and restraining him from further abusing and haranguing council staff and elected members and acting other than in accordance with the code of conduct.”
The vote was passed by 32 for, and two no-votes by Independent Cllrs Michael McBride and Cllr Ian McGarvey.
Cllr McGarvey said he felt that the member (Cllr McBrearty) has been exposed and isolated, and he believed there was a lack of negotiations.
Cathaoirleach Liam Blaney said: “I believe that the member named, over a long number of years, has had plenty of amply opportunity. As we have seen this last number of months, things have got worse.”
