Pat Rabbitte faces internal party inquiry

[Tubber]

Pat Rabbite has been summoned to appear before a Complaints Committee in the coming weeks. This is the first time in the history of the State that a party leader will be investigated by his own party and if the complaint by a councillor, which accuses him of "acting in a manner unbecoming of a Labour Party leader" is fully upheld, he could face suspension or even expulsion.

Sligo Labour councillor and former TD, Declan Bree, initiated the proceedings after a letter to a newspaper, in which Pat Rabbitte accused him of abusing his position as mayor to prevent a halting site for travellers being located in his own electoral ward.

Yesterday, in an unprecedented move, the General Secretary of the party, Mike Allen, confirmed in writing that the complaint, which could have been dismissed as vexatious, would instead be referred to the Complaints Committee.Last February, during his first time tenure as mayor of Sligo Borough Council, Cllr Bree described as "disgraceful" a decision by the Borough Council to vote down the Traveller Accommodation Programme.

Cllr Bree and three Sinn Fein Councillors had voted to adopt the programme while his two Labour colleagues on the Council had voted with the majority against the proposal.

He later refused to apologise for the remarks which had incurred the wrath of the two Labour councillors and was to face a party disciplinary hearing.

In a letter to the Irish Times in September in advance of that hearing, Mr Rabbitte wrote: "In Sligo, Cllr Bree used his position as Mayor to stop an accommodation site going into his own electoral ward and sought to put it into the ward of a colleague that already has three such sites."

But Cllr Bree has pointed out that the minute book of Sligo Borough Council for February 2005 can confirm that the only proposal in regard to his ward, the East Ward, was an amendment to the Traveller Accommodation Programme to the effect that a location be sought in the ward for the provision of apartments for newly wed young travellers

[magic_norhan]

This was already posted here

http://www.politics.ie/forum/viewtopic. ... &start=100

[Salvador]

ya this was posted friday on the sligo string! Altough the issue is bigger than just a Sligo row now. Picked up Daily Ireland yesterday, there was a substantial quote from Rodger Cole on the issue,seems he also submitted a complaint against Pat Rabbitte, one of about 20, including some public reps!

[magic_norhan]

ya this was posted friday on the sligo string! Altough the issue is bigger than just a Sligo row now. Picked up Daily Ireland yesterday, there was a substantial quote from Rodger Cole on the issue,seems he also submitted a complaint against Pat Rabbitte, one of about 20, including some public reps!

It's not really bigger than the sligo row given that that is what it is about

[kathart]

Well it seems that it is about the Leader of the Labour Party publically attempting to smear and villify a fellow party member by making scurrilous and unfounded allegations in a letter to teh Irish Times , which in my mind is totally unacceptable and clearly effects the whole labour party and its membership.... From what i hear there is widespread amazement over Mr Rabbitte's actions.

There dosn't seem to be any substance to Mr. Rabbittes allegation and from what is clear from local papers the minutes of Sligo Council prove the exact opposite...

Looks like Pat still can't tear himself away from the old Stickie style administration of justice and tactics, throw as much muck and it will stick, gutter politics, DL were great at it too!

[Maximus]

I was shocked when I read Rabbittes allegations in the Irish Times, now they have been proven to be unfounded I’m amazed he hasn’t just gone on the record an apologized for the mistake. I can’t see any other party leader acting in such away. It really worries me that a guy as unpredictable as this could end up as Minister for Finance in any potential FG/LAB/GP coalition.

[smiffy]

I was shocked when I read Rabbittes allegations in the Irish Times, now they have been proven to be unfounded I’m amazed he hasn’t just gone on the record an apologized for the mistake. I can’t see any other party leader acting in such away. It really worries me that a guy as unpredictable as this could end up as Minister for Finance in any potential FG/LAB/GP coalition.

Hang on ... you're not TKWhiskers are you? He hasn't been around for a while, and you're quite similar in your posting style.

[Maximus]

Hang on ... you're not TKWhiskers are you? He hasn't been around for a while, and you're quite similar in your posting style.

I'm a new user to this site, just got back from some time in Germany.

[smiffy]

I'm a new user to this site, just got back from some time in Germany.

Indeed.

The similarities with our TK are quite startling though. From a quick look through your posts, you're out in Dun Laoghaire, you're involved in, or have some inside knowledge of, ÓFF, you're ridiculously partisan in support of FF and you've just started a thread (the transport plan) that's almost exactly the same as something TK posted a while ago.

And, of course, TK is a known liar and has used different identities online before (who can forget the infamous Chris-LP over on indymedia?).

I might well be wrong, but the circumstantial evidence is stacking up against you. It's hard to find a single post of yours that couldn't have been written by Mr. 'Rainbow in Tatters'.

[Maximus]

I'm a new user to this site, just got back from some time in Germany.

Indeed.

The similarities with our TK are quite startling though. From a quick look through your posts, you're out in Dun Laoghaire, you're involved in, or have some inside knowledge of, ÓFF, you're ridiculously partisan in support of FF and you've just started a thread (the transport plan) that's almost exactly the same as something TK posted a while ago.

And, of course, TK is a known liar and has used different identities online before (who can forget the infamous Chris-LP over on indymedia?).

I might well be wrong, but the circumstantial evidence is stacking up against you. It's hard to find a single post of yours that couldn't have been written by Mr. 'Rainbow in Tatters'.

I’m not too pushed what you think to be honest, like I said I'm a new user to this site, take it or leave it. I've no interest in your conspiracy theories!