Fine Gael lose another councillor

A Cork county councillor has quit Fine Gael with immediate effect after becoming unhappy with how the party is being run.

West Cork Cllr Karen Coakley, who ran for Fine Gael in the last election, made the announcement at an AGM meeting on Monday evening.

Cllr Coakley was first elected to Skibbereen Town Council in 2009 and served as Mayor of Skibbereen from 2012-2013.

The Skibbereen native confirmed she will continue to represent her municipal district as an Independent councillor.

The announcement comes shortly after former Fine Gael Councillor Katie Murphy’s resignation from her position in November last year having been elected in 2019.