Fine Gael members pledge strong support to Mayo councillor

MEMBERS of the Fine Gael party in Mayo have pledged their full support to Councillor Cyril Burke.

The Mayo Abbey representative is to be investigated by the organisation's national disciplinary committee after a finding was made against by the Standards in Public Office Commission following a hearing into land rezoning allegations.

Now members of the Castlebar District of Fine Gael have come out strongly in support of Councillor Burke contesting next May's local elections as a party candidate.

The Castlebar District Executive is sending a letter to the party's general secretary, Tom Curran, outlining its unanimous support for Councillor Burke, who has been a member of Mayo County Council since 2003 and served a term as cathaoirleach.

The party is due to select its candidates in the Castlebar Municipal District on February 10 and Councillor Burke has already been nominated by a number of branches.

It is clear that in the event of a decision being taken by the FG national executive to remove Councillor Burke as a party candidate, it will be firmly resisted by local grassroots members and officials.

Councillor Burke has stated that job creation, and not personal financial gain, was his motive in seeking to help a fellow elected member, Independent Councillor Frank Durkan, to secure a rezoning of lands owned by him at Aughaluskey, Castlebar, for the purpose of building a nursing home.

Speaking earlier this week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, expressed concern over the SIPO finding made against Councillor Burke.