US Warplanes at Fianna Fail convention
galway |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report 
Monday January 30, 2006 12:22
by John C - GAAW
The Fianna Fail selection convention for Galway West was abandoned yesterday. According to the headlines, the reason for the abandonment was the refusal of delegates to accept a head office ruling that only three candidates should be selected. The precise circumstances of the abandonment, as reported in the Irish Times however, indicate that it was not quite that simple.
The convention chairman, Tony Killeen –a TD for Clare whose support for the use of Shannon by US forces is on record– insisted that delegates accept the party’s rules in the matter. It was at this point that Clonbur delegate, John Joe Halloran, jumped on stage and grabbed the mike from Killeen. The Irish Times report continues:
‘After he made some remarks on the US military planes passing through Shannon, Mr Killeen grabbed the microphone back, while Mr Halloran continued to shout from the stage. Mr Killeen said at that stage, the only thing he could do was declare the proceeding a non-convention…’