Heated exchange overshadows Longford council meeting as no presidential hopeful is backed
A heated exchange took place between Maria Steen and Fianna Fáil Cllr Mick Cahill
Longford County Council voted not to support any candidate in the upcoming presidential election today during a special meeting despite conservative campaigner Maria Steen being nominated.
The barrister by profession was initially supported by Independent Cllr Mark Casey and seconded by Cllr Turlough McGovern.
A vote took place where eight local representatives opposed the barrister receiving Longford County Council backing, five abstained and the two aforementioned council members supported her.
The vote came after details emerged of a heated exchange between Maria Steen and Fianna Fáil Cllr Mick Cahill before she addressed the local authority who subsequently opted not to support her or any of the other 13 presidential hopefuls.
Ms Steen, a mother of five, said she was 'saddened' by a meeting she had with an unnamed Fianna Fáil councillor who was later identified as Cllr Cahill.
The Colehill-based representative, who categorically denied her accusation and whose daughter is in a same-sex marriage, said Ms Steen approached him ahead of entering the chamber and he informed her he would not be supporting her.
"What I said to her in the canteen area was not actually hostile and if she interpreted that as being hostile she has a good bit to learn about politics."
Fine Gael Cllr Paul Ross then proposed a motion not to back any candidate and this was seconded by Fianna Fáil Cllr Seamus Butler prior to a vote which led to it being carried comprehensively following a vote of 12 in favour and two against -again Cllr Casey and Cllr McGovern.
Among the other unsuccessful presidential hopefuls who addressed councillors was Independent Peter Casey who finished second to President Michael D. Higgins in 2018.
He proposed making a county councillor a full-time job and increasing pay for local representatives in line with 'teachers and nurses'.