Gallagher looks likely to receive support of Clare councillors

BUSINESSMAN and “Dragon” Seán Gallagher looks poised to receive the support of Clare County Council to be a candidate in the presidential election.

In dramatic scenes at the council’s June meeting last night, the clock beat Mr Gallagher’s bid to secure an informal endorsement from the council.

However, the vote will now take place next Monday. One Fianna Fáil councillor confirmed last night that a whip from the local Fianna Fáil group had been imposed on the party’s 11 councillors to vote in favour of the Co Cavan man. Also receiving the support of a number of Independents, Mr Gallagher will require the support of a majority of the 32-member council. In Co Longford, meanwhile, councillors backed Mr Gallagher’s bid for president last night ahead of a formal backing in September, a spokesman for Mr Gallagher said.

Last week the majority of Leitrim councillors indicated they would support Mr Gallagher when a vote is taken. He requires four local authorities to back him in order to secure a nomination.

In Co Clare, Mr Gallagher yesterday shared a platform with Senator David Norris (Ind), Mary Davis, managing director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, and two other candidates, Ennis man Dermot Mulqueen and Carlow man Pat Jones.

Ms Davis said the country needed new and bold ideas, later remarking that the planned casino development in Co Tipperary “will help in people coming in here using Shannon airport”.

Mr Norris told councillors: “I realise that I am coming here in the shadow of charges put against me arising from some interviews I have done over the years. The inferences behind these charges I utterly reject.”

In compliance with council standing orders, Clare mayor Christy Curtin called a halt to proceedings at 7pm after councillors had voted against deferring a motion supporting Mr Gallagher’s candidature for president.

However, before a vote on the motion to support Mr Gallagher was taken, council official Michael McNamara said councillors could not pass a resolution formally endorsing a candidate before the presidential campaign was called.

Mr Gallagher’s supporters, made up of the Fianna Fáil group and a number of Independents, voted 15 to 14 against a deferral of the vote.

However, the counting of the vote took the meeting to just 7.01 and Mr Curtin closed the meeting. The vote will now be held next Monday.