A question asking if Letterkenny town councillors were taking bribes has infuriated the local representatives.
The question was printed on a placard held by a protester during a protest by over 100 people from different groups and sporting clubs opposed to the sale of the existing Leisure Centre on Monday night. One local sporting group, Swilly Seals, moved to immediately disassociate itself from any inference that could have been taken from the placard.
However, councillors are still incensed that members of the Letterkenny Community Residents Group have refused to do so. Councillors claimed they were jostled and intimidated as they entered the council offices by protestors with Town Mayor Councillor Ciaran Brogan alleging that a placard had been "shoved in his face" in an intimadatory manner. In a statement issued on Wednesday the Letterkenny Community Residents Group rejected the claims.
"We completely reject the wild allegations made by some councillors that they were jostled and intimidated on their way into the meeting. The protesters included schoolchildren and pensioners, hardly an intimidating prospect," the group said.
"These claims are a desperate attempt to deflect attention away from the important issue of keeping the Leisure Centre. If some councillors were shaken it was because they were taken aback by the scale of public support for keeping the swimming pool in the High Road," the statement added.
Speaking to the Donegal News Councillor Damien Blake said the placard's question was extremely hurtful.
"As a council we are all too aware of the needs for groups like the Swilly Seals and I'd like to thank the group who swiftly took the action to distance themselves from the allegations made by other protestors and the conduct of others. The man who had the placard came out on radio and said he was not a member of any group," he said.
"However, the Letterkenny Community Residents' Group has refused to distance itself from the unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations about bribery. The protest was organised by the Letterkenny Community Residents' Group and it falls on them to distance themselves from such action. To me the legitimate concerns of groups like the Swilly Seals and other local clubs have been hijacked to service the electoral purposes of others".
Cllr Blake said the question on a placard had personal ramifications for the members and they would be seeking to get clarification from various groups.
Mayor Brogan said:"I have to say that in my eight years as a councillor, we have had different protests and different decisions but never in my life have I experienced anything like what went on," Mayor Brogan said.
"I have had placards shoved in my face and people roaring at me. The manner in which they were behaving and the manner of the signs that have been produced - we have stooped to an all-time low with regard to this protest this evening. We are elected representatives and we should be entitled to stick to our decisions. We have had numerous occasions where there have been campaigns and we have had differences of opinion. But this is very sad and it involves some people who should know better."
Cllr Victor Fisher said the placard's question had "hurt him".
"These placards that are there suggesting that the members of this council are taking bribes, that has really hurt me. In my 26 years, I have never taken a shilling. I think that's a shocking thing to come up with," he said.
Cllr Jean Crossan said she also took umbrage to the sign.
"It's nothing short of disgraceful. How dare anyone write that about us - I think it's a disgrace," she said.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle said it was wrong for someone to suggest that the councillors are taking bribes.
"We also need to understand the depth of feeling out there. People are entitled to protest in a well behaved manner. While it may have been the wrong selection of words, we have to acknowledge the level of feeling that is out there," he said.
Cllr Jimmy Harte said people had a legitimate right to protest if they weren't being listened too.
Cllr Neil Clarke said he didn't witness what happened and appealed to people to refrain from such activity.
Councillor Dessie Larkin said allegations of bribery were hard to take as somebody who had worked for the town for ten years and whose father had served for 30 years before that. He supported the legitimate right of people to protest but said there 'dangerous elements' who were out do damage.
"This is hurtful and totally without foundation. I have no problem somebody coming forward publicly and putting it to me where I am supposed to be taking money from or where there is a conflict of interest. I would resign if this happened," he said.
"There is innuendo being spread about trying to do an injustice to me and other members that we are involved in a masterplan for this area that will benefit developers which is simply not true. Some of the developers I am supposed to be aiding I don't have any relationship with whatsoever," Councillor Larkin said.
In their statement the Letterkenny Community Residents Group congratulated the 100 people who turned out on a stormy Monday night. The protest was noisy, boisterous and spirited but conducted in a good-natured manner throughout.
" We also wish to thank Councillors Clarke, Harte, Lynch and McMonagle for their continued support and encouragement. We completely reject the wild allegations made by some councillors that they were jostled and intimidated on their way into the meeting.
"The protesters included schoolchildren and pensioners, hardly an intimidating prospect.
"These claims are a desperate attempt to deflect attention away from the important issue of keeping the Leisure Centre.
"If some councillors were shaken it was because they were taken aback by the scale of public support for keeping the swimming pool in the High Road. They better get used to it because it is clear that momentum is building behind the campaign. Councillors, including Dessie Larkin, spent a considerable part of the meeting, bitterly complaining about what one placard was supposed to have alleged in relation to 'bribes'. Yet Councillor Larkin showed he is not above making unfounded allegations himself when he said that, what he termed 'bad elements', were using the Leisure Centre issue in pursuit of a hidden agenda. He should name these 'elements' and what he is accusing them of or withdraw this slur.
"There is only one agenda behind our campaign – to keep the High Road facility open for the benefit of our children in particular and for the future good of our town.
'Cllr Larkin also alleged that a leaflet critical of him had been circulated 'with no contact name', as if this was something sinister. The leaflet in question clearly states on front and back that it is issued by the Community Residents Group and gives a contact telephone number. He told us of a meeting with a local businessman where he was told of a secret property deal involving the Leisure Centre," the statement read.
"Cllr Larkin asked where these stories are coming from. The insinuation is that they are coming from our campaign. Like many people, we have heard these stories too, but we do not know what is the truth behind them.
"The only person who has gone to the press with an allegation of a secret deal has been Councillor Fisher. In November he told a local newspaper that he had been told that the Leisure Centre had already been sold in a secret deal and that he was opposed to this. He appears to have withdrawn this claim since then. So if Councillor Larkin wants to know who is spreading these stories, he should talk to his party colleague.
"He said the many who had turned out on the protest were being 'manipulated'. This is an insult to the many people over the past few months who have attended public meetings, sat in the public gallery at council meetings and last night noisily protested as their voice was not being listened to."
