FG rule on votes with Sinn Fein appears to be flexible

The decree by the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, that the party's councillors should not associate themselves with voting pacts with Sinn Fein in elections to council positions appears to have been interpreted differently across the State.

In Monaghan, a Fianna Fail councillor, Mr Brendan Hughes, was unanimously elected new chairman of Monaghan County Council as a result of a pact with Fine Gael and Sinn Fein, both of which have six members on the 20-member body.

Sinn Fein's Mr Brian McKenna was also unanimously elected vice-chairman.

Fine Gael members also accepted positions with Sinn Fein councillors' votes as representatives to different local bodies.

In Meath, Mr Bruton's constituency, the election of Sinn Fein's Mr Joe Reilly to Navan UDC and Meath County Council almost upset the apple cart. Out of a total of 29 seats, Fianna Fail won 14, leaving a possibility that Fine Gael could take control with the support of their own 11, three independents and Mr Reilly.

Mr Reilly said he was approached on the night of the count by a senior local Fine Gael party representative and asked to make himself available later in the week. He agreed.

However, two of the other three independents, who formerly supported a Fianna Fail chairman, could not be swayed and Mr Reilly said he heard no more of the deal.

The chair eventually went to the former Fianna Fail TD, Mr Brian Fitzgerald.

In other elections, Fianna Fail's Clane-based councillor, Mr P.J. Sheridan (53), has been elected chairman of Kildare County Council.

A Fine Gael councillor, Mr Rainsford Hendy, from Timolin, defeated a Labour member, Mr Jim Keane, for the vice-chairmanship.

In Limerick, Fianna Fail achieved a political double after an absence of eight years when Mr Michael O'Kelly (68), a retired teacher from Abbeyfeale, was elected chairman of Limerick County Council. Mr Jack Bourke (66) was elected Mayor of Limerick with the support of the Labour Party.

Fine Gael's Ms Mary Barrett was unanimously elected as the first chairwoman of Sligo County Council. Mr Roddy McGuinn, of Fianna Fail, was elected vicechairman.

Mr Tony Ferguson, of Fianna Fail, was elected chairman of Leitrim County Council.

In Wicklow, Mr George Jones has been elected chairman of Wicklow County Council. The vice-chairman is Mr Pat Doyle, a Fianna Fail representative from Newtownmountkennedy. Mr Doyle is expected to succeed to the chairmanship next year.