FG councillor who called for Kenny to quit resigns

FINE GAEL UNREST:A FINE Gael councillor who said on RTÉ that Brian Cowen as the leader of Fianna Fáil would "devour" Enda Kenny has resigned from the party.

Seán Brown, a town councillor from Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was highly critical of Mr Kenny and said he should now consider his position as leader of Fine Gael when he spoke as a member of the audience during Questions and Answers last Monday.

Mr Brown, a solicitor, has been a member of Fine Gael since 1999, and a councillor since 2004. Fine Gael confirmed that Mr Brown had handed in his resignation yesterday. It is understood he will continue as an Independent member.

Mr Brown made his comments during a segment where the panellists were asked whether Brian Cowen would wield a scalpel or a hatchet when making changes to the Cabinet.

In a reference to former Labour leader Ruairí Quinn, who was a panellist on the programme, Mr Brown said that he and current Labour leader, Eamon Gilmore, had shown great strength in their ability to deal with the big moments.

He continued: "Sadly for me, the only hatchet job I can see Brian Cowen doing is with Enda Kenny. I would be very concerned about how Brian Cowen might devour Enda Kenny in the long run."

Mr Brown said Fine Gael needed to put a very strong opposition leader in place of the sake of the country. "We have too many opposition parties there for too long and Enda Kenny now needs to consider his position."

A Fine Gael spokesman welcomed Mr Brown's resignation.