West Mayo councillors cancel meetings over 'insult' crux

COUNCILLORS in the West Mayo Municipal District (MD) won't be holding further meetings until a dispute with Mayo County Council's planning department is resolved.

This was announced by cathaoirleach Brendan Mulroy at today's full county council meeting in Castlebar.

Tempers flared at the last MD meeting in March and some councillors walked out, alleging they had been 'insulted' by the council's head of planning, Iain Douglas.

The March meeting was then abandoned.

Today, Councillor Mulroy, speaking on behalf of the seven other elected MD, members, said that the meeting planned for the end of the month won't be going ahead.

Councillor Mulroy said the councillors are seeking a meeting with the council executive and also with the authority's planning officials.

“We won't be having a meeting until this issue is dealt with,” he explained.

The councillor did not go into any details of the 'dispute' but said it is “a very emotional topic for a lot of people.”

Councillor Mulroy proposed no further debate on the issue and this was acceded to.

Council members then moved on to discuss other business.