RESIDENTS in City North and City East are bewildered with Labour Party local election candidates who they claim have been canvassing on their doorsteps under the guise as independents.
Sinn Féin candidate for Limerick City East, Séighin Ó’Ceallaigh, has accused a Labour rival in the same ward of “masquerading as an independent”. According to Ó’Ceallaigh, Derek Mulcahy has been distributing election material with no mention of his candidacy for the Labour Party.
“He describes himself as a peace commissioner but makes no mention of the Labour Party. Residents of Garryowen drew my attention to this leaflet while canvassing in the area. It really is quite a bizarre document and speaks volumes for the level of embarrassment that Labour candidates must feel about their parties performance in government,” said Mr Ó’Ceallaigh.
In response, Mr Mulcahy denied that his election flyers do not reference the Labour Party.
“All my canvassing leaflets have the Labour Party logo on them and I am a peace commissioner. If people need a document signed I am more then happy to accommodate,” said Mr Mulcahy.
“Garryowen is one of the oldest communities in Limerick that does not have its own community centre. The letter I put out in Garryowen is letting the people know that if I am elected to Limerick City and County Council I will make this a priority,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Anti Austerity Alliance candidate for City North, Cian Prendiville, has also accused Labour rival Frankie Daly of “pretending to be an independent”. A campaign leaflet issued by Mr Daly, who is standing in Limerick City North, makes no reference his party, and the AAA claim many who he has talked to believed he was an independent.
“Labour are running scared. The fact that their leaflets don’t mention the Labour Party is a further sign that this party are trying to scam working class people. They know they are facing a wipe out and are trying every trick in the book to avoid that. Labour are obviously well trained in lying during elections, but this is a new low,” said Mr Prendiville.
According to Frankie’s campaign manager Richard Fahy, 300 campaign posters, 10,000 flyers and 6,000 leaflets were distributed in City North in the run up to this Friday’s local election all with the Labour party logo.
“Frankie did put together a low quality leaflet, a bio, for people who asked for a little more information. Maybe you could ask Cian Prendiville to clear up the confusion on whether he’s a member of the Anti Austerity Alliance or the Socialist Party,” Mr Fahy concluded.
