A new feud erupts in Limerick

Unfortunately, it's likely that nobody will be shot this time.

A war of words has commenced between Cllr. Noreen Ryan (FF) and Willie O'Dea (FF). Noreen, who has become more and more disillusioned with her party, has written a blistering letter to the Taoiseach, demanding Willie's immediate sacking. She's pointed out that it is inappropriate for Government ministers to facilitate representations on behalf of incarcerated prisoners, some of them probable murderers - she said criminals: "should not be aided and abetted by any member of the Government or indeed any member of the Fianna Fail party."

Willie has fought back and described Cllr. Ryan using words like: "inactivity," "obsession," and "pitiful."

Read it hot off the press: LINK.

The Limerick Blogger got wind of this yesterday. Check here for the local reaction: LINK.

I've known Noreen for a while (we were both involved with the Pallaskenry and Kildimo water fiasco). She's got some balls and would have the potential to be able to kick arse if she developed them a bit more with some ass-kicking practice and staying power practice. Willie's arse may be close to the floor, but it's well padded. Watch out for the assasination of Ms. Ryan, it'll be messy. Methinks Noreen will shortly be announcing her retirement from FF and her continuing on as an independent. You never know though, her suicide might just pull the real Willie out from behind the moustache.

Quote :

Figures were published earlier this week which show that Minister O'Dea facilitated 29 representations. Amongst them were a request for the transfer of a murder suspect back to Limerick from Dublin prison, the Christmas Day release of a drug dealer and the temporary release of another drug dealer so he could get married.
This is not the first time in recent weeks that Cllr Ryan has been critical of Minister O'Dea or her fellow party members. At a County Council meeting in November to discuss the agriculture cuts proposed in the budget, she claimed that all her superiors in Government were interested in was "the size of the Mercs they get to travel in."

"The Budget shows how removed they are from people and from us. They say - and we have two Ministers here in East Limerick - that they have had no input into decision making. But I don't know where the country is going. How can a country run by the corrupt ever have prosperity? I was born into Fianna Fail, but it was not the Fianna Fail that I see now," she said at the meeting.

Is there a split coming?

cactus flower wrote:

Quote :

Figures were published earlier this week which show that Minister O'Dea facilitated 29 representations. Amongst them were a request for the transfer of a murder suspect back to Limerick from Dublin prison, the Christmas Day release of a drug dealer and the temporary release of another drug dealer so he could get married.
This is not the first time in recent weeks that Cllr Ryan has been critical of Minister O'Dea or her fellow party members. At a County Council meeting in November to discuss the agriculture cuts proposed in the budget, she claimed that all her superiors in Government were interested in was "the size of the Mercs they get to travel in."

"The Budget shows how removed they are from people and from us. They say - and we have two Ministers here in East Limerick - that they have had no input into decision making. But I don't know where the country is going. How can a country run by the corrupt ever have prosperity? I was born into Fianna Fail, but it was not the Fianna Fail that I see now," she said at the meeting.

Is there a split coming?

I dunno if a split is coming. If there is one, it'll probably be quite small. The malcontents.

In the long term, this particular spat doesn't mean a whole hill of beans. However, in the short term, and with the economy and other stuff the way it is, this could be a very bad time to have a public blood fest. If for an example, some incident, or series of incidents, lead to a general election, this type of thing could spell disasterous for FF (and might lead to a big split).

All in all, I think Willie's made a big mistake here. He's waded in, all guns blazing. Overkill. Overkill is fine and dandy, but not when Ms Ryan has a point, and not when Limerick is more pissed off than ever about crime. Of course, we need more data, like who leaked the existence of the letter to the media, etc. Willie has painted a big target on his forehead methinks and it remains to be seen if his opposition can make political hay whilst the sun shines, imo. Willie has a good polling record in Limerick but he has made himself lots of political enemies. Those who climb the highest, have the furthest to fall.

What do you think of Willie yourself Hermes. A man among mice from the little I have seen.

I've had many's a run in with Willie over the years.

To sum him up in a single word - I think he's a 'joke.' And he's not even funny. Though I would advise folks to look at the widely available evidence and judge him for themselves. I'm very biased in my view of Willie. To say I don't like him is to understate it.

He's normally wheeled out when the government are in trouble and need lots of noise to distract people with. He's FF's 100 watt Marshall, with the volume knob turned to 11. He's been elected time and time again, but it's only recently that he's gotten any power and Limerick it's first minister in donkey's years. I honestly don't rate him amongst his peers. Most can run rings around him in debate and he's left with insult, trying to interrupt their flow and bluster as his only weapons.

I'm kinda surprised he's even appeared on your radar. He's nothing like Ron Paul. Sure, he mouths off about the Constitution regularly, but he rarely, if ever, does anything or says anything, that shows he has even a basic comprehension of it. I've often heard him described as a former barrister. I'm very unsure if this is true and would be very surprised indeed if it was.

I'd not be too impressed with his bark. A chihuahua with no teeth.

So he is a verbal bully. The only time I saw him was on the Q&A a few weeks back and I liked the fact that he showed distain for Gilmore who was talking peanut measures in the face of a 13 billion shortfall.

Ireland is long past the point where a Ron Paul could surface so I,ll give up on that. I would settle for a socialist like the late Kemmy as long as he was genuine and Nationalistic. I have great respect for Kucinich over here even though he is to the left as well.

Is there an Irish version of George Galloway. I was sorry to see that socialist independent losing his seat as well.

Joe Higgins is about the nearest thing we have to George Galloway perhaps. You know Joe Higgins youngdan ?

Sorry this is a little off topic but here is Higgins indignant at the remarks Conor Lenihan made about Turkish workers who had been here on illegally low pay and working in foul conditions and who had been defended by Higgins. Lenihan was Overseas Minister at the time and Higgins had every right to call for his resignation I think. Tut tut conor...