INDEPENDENT COUNCILLOR Maureen O’Sullivan is to contest the Dublin Central byelection as the candidate of the late Tony Gregory’s organisation. Mr Gregory’s death in January caused the vacancy. Ms O’Sullivan was a close associate for many years and gave the eulogy at his funeral in January.
Ms O’Sullivan, a schoolteacher, who represents the north inner city on the council, referred yesterday to her long association with Mr Gregory.
“But we would be dishonouring Tony and his memory, and I don’t think he would have liked it, if I was just to stand on that basis alone,’’ she added.
“I had a conversation with him during his illness, and he was of the view that whoever stood would be doing so on their own merit.’’
She said that the voters of Dublin Central were concerned about the same issues confronting the rest of the country.
“We are talking about the recession, unemployment, housing and drugs,’’ she added.
“I think it is a terrible indictment of our society that the same issues which Tony stood for, as far back as the 1970s, are still with us.’’
She added that while great strides had been made, and Tony Gregory had achieved much, it was a shame that Irish society was now regressing.
The byelection is expected to be held next June on the same day as the European and local elections and the Dublin South byelection.
Ms O’Sullivan announced her candidacy yesterday at a press conference in the Teachers’ Club, Parnell Square, flanked by the late Mr Gregory ’s brother, Noel, and constituency activists Mick Rafferty and Fergus McCabe. who were part of the Gregory organisation from the time he first became involved in politics.
Mr McCabe appealed for an alliance of the left in the byelection.
“We feel very strongly that if there is to be a left candidate, it should be our candidate,’’ he said.
He hoped that Labour, Sinn Féin and other left candidates would rally around Ms O’Sullivan.
Mr McCabe said that the organisation had unanimously selected Ms O’Sullivan, the late TD’s “long-term colleague and friend”. He said that Ms O’Sullivan would also run for Dublin City Council.
If both elections fell on the same day, the Gregory organisation would make “a decision” relating to the council seat.
The Fine Gael candidate in the byelection will be Senator Paschal Donohoe. The other parties have yet to choose candidates.
