Fine Gael local public representative Ciara McPhillips tendered her resignation as a member of Monaghan Co Council on Monday, stating that she could not continue in her political role because of time constraints that left her unable to manager her professional career as a solicitor in addition to her duties as a councillor.
In a letter of resignation read to the June meeting of the local authority by Cathaoirleach P J O’Hanlon (Fianna Fáil), she stated: “…I am unwilling to do either job by halves.” The resignation of Ms Phillips, who is due to marry her fiancé Stephen in December, took immediate effect.
FG whip David Maxwell indicated on Monday that a replacement for her would be nominated by the party in the coming months. This is the second time in the life of the current Council that a sitting FG councillor has resigned citing work pressures.
The former Councillor McPhillips’ Ballybay-Clones Municipal District colleague, 22-year-old Eugene Bannigan (son of fomer Councillor Owen Bannigan who was the original candidate but died suddenly on the eve of voting) stepped down on Friday May 23 2015 to be replaced…
