Flynn loyalists set to defy ruling from FF headquarters

The Mayo Fianna Fáil cumann disbanded by party headquarters meets tonight and has no intention of going away. Lorna Siggins reports

The route from Castlebar to Belmullet can be wild and lonely at the best of times, through a mantle of blanket bog bordered by the Atlantic and the Nephin mountains. Yet Beverley Flynn, Independent TD for Mayo, was in good spirits as she drove to her weekly clinic last Friday, thanks to the party which expelled her - Fianna Fáil.

Just a year after the national executive took action over her failed Supreme Court RTÉ libel appeal, easterly winds are blowing her good fortune. "I'm really enjoying politics right now, and the freedom I have as an Independent," she told The Irish Times.

And why wouldn't she, when she is allocated Dáil time by Government on issues like the €2 billion underspend in the Border, Midland and Western Region, while also secure in the knowledge that party colleagues are firmly behind her.

The Micheál Ó Moráin cumann, which was officially disbanded last month over its alleged support for her, is meeting once more in Castlebar tonight to consider its options.

These options include possible legal action. Financial backing has also been secured to continue in business, its chairman, John Browne, who is a close friend of the Flynn family, told The Irish Times. Fundraisers are being organised to clear a debt of almost €5,000 dating back to last year's European and local elections.

"Until such time as I am informed in writing of the reasons for our disbandment under the party corú or constitution, we are going nowhere," Mr Browne said.

Under the corú, a member can be expelled and can appeal to the comhairle and Dáil ceantair, but there is no provision for disbanding a cumann, he says. A Fianna Fáil spokeswoman told The Irish Times the cumann was no longer an issue for the party, as it had been dissolved.

Caught up in the mix is the recent release of the Brian Cowen report on party organisational reform, and last month's admission of drink driving by former minister and Donegal North-East, deputy Dr Jim McDaid.

"Since the Taoiseach and junior minister Brian Lenihan backed him, the phones have been hopping from women all over the constituency who feel this is in sharp contrast to the way Beverley was treated last year," Mr Browne says.

The Cowen report on organisational reform, or interpretation of same, has already aroused some hackles in Mayo.

A comhairle ceantair meeting in Claremorris just over a week ago is said to have discussed setting an upper age limit on party officials.

"At cumann level, you are talking about ordinary people who have the time to do a lot of work on a voluntary basis," Ms Flynn says, emphasising that she was not present in Claremorris. "It is a bit much for party headquarters to lay down too many rules and regulations when you are looking for people's goodwill to get involved."

Ironically, the Micheál Ó Moráin cumann may fit the Cowen "problem profile" in terms of age, but feels it has been given a new lease of life. It claims to have 167 members, and meets once a month.

Chairman John Browne admits that he may have lost 20 per cent of members since the disbandment decision. Among those who have drifted are the cumann secretary, Eamonn Joyce, and two elected representatives, Mayo county councillor Seán Bourke and Castlebar town councillor, Aiden Crowley.

Both Bourke and Crowley are tipped as possible Fianna Fáil nominees in the next general election, while there is also speculation about the possible candidacy of a detective garda, Denis Gallagher, son of the late Government minister. Cllr Bourke, who had accompanied Ms Flynn to the national executive expulsion last May, and for whom she canvassed during last year's local elections, told The Irish Times that he hadn't "resigned", as the cumann was now disbanded.

"A new cumann will be formed, and we are awaiting a report from the national executive on this which will go to the Dáil ceantair," Cllr Bourke said.

Mr Browne was incensed to learn of the development last month on Mid-West Radio. "It was followed up by a long phone call from national organiser Seán Sherwin who kept me on the phone for 40 minutes talking about how he had dealt with Mary Harney and Jackie Healy-Rae and Neil Blaney," Mr Browne says.

"He told me that a new cumann would be formed and that Pádraig Flynn - who is an honorary life member of the Micheál Ó Moráin cumann - would never be accepted as a member of Fianna Fáil, nor would any of his family or any associate of Susan Hamrock, Beverley Flynn's secretary," Mr Browne claims. Ms Hamrock is daughter of the cumann's public relations officer, John Hamrock.

Castlebar's difficulties predate the RTÉ libel case and the allegations made against former commissioner, Pádraig Flynn. After Ms Flynn sought to run for the Dáil, a rival Castlebar town cumann was established, backed by Iarlaith Duffy, a local election candidate and member of the Fianna Fáil ard-chomhairle.

Several new "paper cumainn" have also been formed, according to Mr Browne. He says he met Seán Dorgan of party headquarters late last year in Roscommon on the specific issue of unity, and was led to believe that all the Castlebar cumainn might be suspended, and a new cumann founded. "Instead, the Taoiseach just wanted us axed."

Former Mayo Fianna Fáil senator Frank Chambers believes the party had no option but to act as it did. "I have personal sympathy for Beverley Flynn's plight, but her problem is of her own making. Fianna Fáil will be picking candidates by September and has to get the organisation into shape."

The central issue for Fianna Fáil is whether it will find a candidate who can replace Ms Flynn. The central issue for Ms Flynn is whether Mayo will return two Independent TDs at the next election. She has been shadowing Dr Jerry Cowley in terms of issues, but denies that she sought to join the Independent's technical group. "My heart is and always will be with Fianna Fáil."

Fine Gael TD Michael Ring remembers it was not easy for Ms Flynn in the 1997 and 2002 elections, but thinks she could hold her seat again because "Mayo is fed up of its treatment by this Government".