QUESTIONS are likely to be asked about just how in touch some of Kerry’s politicians are with the views of many of the people they were elected to represent following the emphatic Yes majority in today’s referendum.
Three of Kerry’s five TDs and two of the county’s three senators had spoken in favour of a No vote while on Killarney Municipal District Council at least five of the eight councillors had indicated that they were also voting No.
In the lead up to the vote, Minister Brendan Griffin and Deputy Martin Ferris said they would vote Yes but the Healy-Rae brothers, Danny and Michael, and Deputy John Brassil were not in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment.
Senator Ned O’Sullivan was very vocal in his support of a Yes vote but Senator Mark Daly and veteran campaigner Paul Coghlan were supporting the No side.
On Killarney Town Council, Cllr John Joe Culloty was chairman of the Kerry Right to Life Movement while Cllrs Michael Gleeson, Brendan Cronin, Donal Grady and John Sheahan were also in favour of a No vote.
Mayor Niall Kelleher, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae and Cllr Bobby O’Connell did not go public with their voting intentions.
Interestingly, in the Healy-Rae home stronghold of Kilgarvan, both polling booths returned a Yes majority, according to tally figures.
The tally also indicated that a number of areas in Kerry were in favour of No, including Glenflesk, Rathmore, Tureencahill, Raheen, Ballyduff, Knocknagoshel and Brosna while, in Gneeveguilla, one box was in favour of repeal and the other against.
© KillarneyToday.com: It’s the talk of the town. To advertise call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
