Verona Murphy cuts short public meeting after being 'blindsided' by developer - 'I am not going to continue when he wants to put his side across'

"We all know that I no longer need a vote to be elected"

"I am not going to continue a meeting where Mr. (Aidan) Gallagher wants to put his side across"

"'blindsided'"

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy hosted a public meeting in Rosslare about the future of a former hotel building intended for an IPAS centre. Developer Aidan Gallagher unexpectedly attended and addressed attendees. Murphy said she was 'blindsided' by his presence and ended the meeting abruptly. Murphy told the crowd, 'We all know that I no longer need a vote to be elected,' and said she would not continue while Gallagher presented his side. The abrupt ending occurred in Wexford and has heightened controversy around the hotel's redevelopment and local engagement with the planning process.

Read at Independent