SNN FÉIN:SINN FÉIN'S longest-serving councillor in the Republic has resigned from the party days after losing the Dublin central byelection.
Christy Burke, who retained his seat on Dublin City Council over the weekend, said the interests of his constituents would be best served if he had the “freedom” of an Independent. Mr Burke has been a party activist in the north inner city for 25 years.
In a terse statement, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, chair of the party’s Dublin branch, said Mr Burke’s resignation was disappointing, coming after he won the council seat on a Sinn Féin ticket. “He should now honour the commitment that he made only weeks ago and return what is a Sinn Féin seat to the party,” Mr Ó Snodaigh said.
Mr Burke received 3,770 first preferences, or 13.3 per cent, in the byelection. His campaign was dwarfed by that of party colleague Mary Lou McDonald for the Dublin European constituency.
Sinn Féin considered running Ms McDonald for the Dáil seat, but the Government’s late decision to hold the byelection on the same day as the European elections closed off that option. Having lost her European seat, Ms McDonald is widely expected to run for the Dáil at the next general election.
Mr Burke denied his decision was motivated by disenchantment over Ms McDonald’s position. “A European candidate would have precedence in relation to trying to get elected and get votes . . . Mary Lou is a decent individual and a good candidate and she’s the vice-president of the party. It’s nothing to do with Mary Lou,” he said.
“It’s been in my mind for a while. It’s a very difficult day for everybody . . . I’ve done my bit . . . I served the party, I think I served it in a dignified way, and I’ll continue on as an independent councillor to do the best for the people of the north inner city.”
