The Progressive Democrats have suffered another serious political blow with the decision of Cllr Mags Murray in the Dublin West constituency to join Fianna Fáil. Deaglán de Bréadún, Political Correspondent, reports.
Cllr Murray is the sole PD member of Fingal County Council, representing the Castleknock ward. She was elected on her first attempt in the local elections of June 2004, capturing the PD seat previously held by Tom Morrissey.
On that occasion, she obtained 1,288 votes on the first count, or 10.05 per cent of the first preferences in Castleknock. When she stood as a PD general election candidate for Dublin West last May, she received 553 votes on the first count or 1.63 per cent of the first preferences in the constituency.
A PD spokesman last night expressed "disappointment" at the news of Cllr Murray's decision and added: "Mags was not at the recent meeting in Galway, attended by virtually all of the PD councillors, where they declared their clear intention to stay with the PDs."
Cllr Murray told The Irish Times: "My whole family roots are in Fianna Fáil on my mother's side and among my in-laws. Since 2004 I have formally been a member of the Fianna Fáil group on Fingal County Council and I have worked closely with Fianna Fáil people in local organisations."
Asked to comment on Cllr Murray's decision, the sole Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin West, Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said: "She's very welcome. It's very much a local matter - we don't want it to have any national implications.
"We know there's a debate going on in the PDs about their future."
Local political observer Kevin MacDermot of the Gazette group of newspapers said: "Cllr Murray's defection from the PDs to Fianna Fáil will come as a major shock to the other political parties on the ground.
It represents a deft stroke by Brian Lenihan to shore up Fianna Fáil's vote at the heart of the constituency in the run-up to the local elections."
It is understood Cllr Murray was keen to change parties since last summer but Fianna Fáil was anxious not to disturb their working relationship in government with the PDs and asked her to hold off until after the recent meeting of PD councillors in Galway.
"We're not trying to make waves," a party source said.
A resident of Clonsilla and mother of three, Cllr Murray is an accomplished sportswoman who holds All-Ireland medals for camogie and Gaelic football.
She is involved in numerous voluntary organisations and charities.
"The two politicians I most admire in Irish politics are Mary Harney and Brian Lenihan," Cllr Murray said. Her former constituency colleague Tom Morrissey had been "very supportive of the move".
PD councillor Mary Mitchell O'Connor in Dún Laoghaire switched to Fine Gael last December.