Gormley hit by Green storm over 'principles'
Letter from senior figures raps party's failure on key issue
GREEN Party leader John Gormley faced the first public split in his party last night as he became embroiled in a triple controversy over its weakening ethical stances.
As he headed off on his summer holidays, three key trouble spots flared:
* Several senior Green figures strongly condemned his 'party's failure' to stop US troops using Shannon Airport.
* The party's backing of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was called into question as further serious contradictions emerged at the Mahon Tribunal about his personal finances.
* And next week, the party's previous criticisms of Fianna Fail's fundraising methods will be flung back in their faces as the main Coalition partner's tent at the Galway Races will be open for business as usual.
Mr Ahern will be present on Tuesday and Wednesday, hosting the usual array of party activists, property developers, builders and businessmen attending the racing festival.
Fianna Fail expects to raise around €160,000 from the hospitality tent over the four days, despite Mr Gormley's previous protests of the controversial fundraising venture.
The combination of events and issues mean Mr Gormley is facing his first major internal row since becoming party leader 10 days ago.
A surprising number of Green Party representatives signed a public letter criticising Government policy on the Shannon stopover as 'morally and politically wrong'.
They said they were 'deeply saddened' and felt a certain moral responsibility for 'our party's failure' to have one of its key principles included in the Programme for Government.
The letter is signed by four general election candidates. They are former MEP Patricia McKenna, Niall O Brolchain from Galway, Chris O'Leary from Cork and Betty Doran from Westmeath. Cllr Malcolm Noonan from Kilkenny is also a signature.
The letter was described as "not helpful" by the party last night.
"We would recognise frustrations and that some people have issues that are very close to their hearts. But we would hope to convince party members that we're achieving the vast majority of our policies in Government," a spokesman said.
A spokesman for Mr Gormley also defended the party's stance.
Mr O Brolchain, a high-profile figure in the general election, acknowledged the letter could cause problems for his party in Government but said it was consistent with the party's policy on opposing war.
"You either stand for something or you don't," he said.
"After a week of revelations at the Mahon Tribunal raised further questions about Mr Ahern's personal finances, Fine Gael began to turn the screw on the Greens.
Yesterday an AIB foreign exchange official said money lodged on behalf of the Taoiseach was probably $45,000, but it could have been Sterling.
Mr Ahern is going to have a difficult time explaining these matters when he appears as a witness, according to Fine Gael.
"One wonders what the Greens, and indeed the PDs, are making of these unfolding events after receiving specific assurances on these matters," a party spokesman said.
But the Greens are not commenting on the latest developments as Mr Gormley's spokesman says the tribunal must be left to do its work.
Fianna Fail insists there is nothing in any way exclusive about the tent at the Galway races and the vast majority of those who pay in are party supporters.
Over the course of the week, 1,700 people will visit the tent, including 500 party grassroots members who will attend on Friday at a cut price €85 each.
Just six months ago, Mr Gormley lashed out at the Galway Races tent and cited it as a reason for the Greens wanting Fianna Fail out of government.
Mr Gormley's spokesman said last night the issue of political party funding will be a matter for the Electoral Commission, provided for in the Programme for Government.
$64,000 QUESTION: P14
JAMES DOWNEY: P16
- Fionnan Sheahan and Michael Brennan
