Cork SW Fianna Fail candidate Margaret Murphy O'Mahony has generated some heated debate over how her car was parked in Clonakilty last night.
FIANNA Fail general election candidate in Cork South West, Margaret Murphy O’Mahony, has incurred the wrath of some people in Clonakilty after a photograph of a car she is using for canvassing parked across the footpath and part of the ‘yellow box’ area in front of the local fire station – that is meant to be kept clear – was posted on Facebook.
It was posted, he says, in a personal capacity, by Mayor of Clonakilty Cionnaith O Suilleabhain, a former Sinn Féin town councillor, who commented that the way the car was parked was ‘not a very vote-catching (or legal) thing to do!’
Referring to the stickers on the vehicle, Mr O Suilleabhain stated: ‘Pardon the puns, but if this is what constitutes a 'new choice' and 'new ideas' are about for this candidate (who doesn't seem to mention she's Fianna Fáil anywhere on the stickers), then I'm afraid she will have no voice!!!’
Ms Murphy O’Mahony responded by thanking him for the ‘free ad’ before explaining: ‘For your information the car had overheated, probably due to all the miles I had covered canvassing, so I had to pull in there to sort it.
'I am sure you have other things that you could be using your time on and I am glad that you obviously think that I am going to be elected to start this sort of dirty politics; something I would never do. Fianna Fáil is on the car four times … we did and do exist!’
The controversy has generated mixed reaction that is ongoing.