Former Longford Fianna Fáil general election candidate takes swipe at the party and ‘running mate’ Robert Troy

Former Longford Fianna Fáil general election candidate, Connie Gerety-Quinn, has hit out at the party and her constituency running mate, Deputy Robert Troy, alleging she was subjected to a litany of ‘unchristian’ treatment during the 2016 election campaign.

In an election, where 32% of Longford voters, or 6,713 people, cast their votes for Westmeath candidates, first-time candidate Ms Gerety-Quinn received an impressive 3,944 first preferences and she was eliminated from the marathon ‘Siege of Kenagh’ contest after Count 12.

Ironically, it was her running mate, Robert Troy,  who was the biggest beneficiary of the swing towards Westmeath candidates with him receiving approximately 1,742 first preferences from Longford voters.

Recent remarks from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin suggesting it was ‘unchristian’ of a priest to refuse Deputy Troy communion because he voted to repeal the 8th amendment, prompted the stinging Facebook post from Ms Gerety-Quinn.

Happier times...Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Connie Gerety-Quinn during the general election campaign trail in January 2016. PICTURE: Michelle Ghee

She went back to the 2015 Longford FF selection convention where she accepted the candidacy following a gender directive from FF party headquarters.

She wrote, “A mob of men (Fianna Fail members) gathered around me calling me a c**t; telling me I would never have luck and as I wiped their spit off my face advised me that I could stop this by walking away – that’s unchristian.”

Ms Gerety-Quinn went on to claim, “The men and women on the CDC executive boycotted my campaign, my access to supports for canvassing, poster pitching and most importantly my access to funds - that’s unchristian.”

In the post, she reveals how she was ordered to remove campaign posters she had erected in county Westmeath.

“Robert Troy, “my running mate” who in mid campaign, despite having a huge campaign machine and lashings of funding within weeks of polling day rings me to tell me that three of my posters were across the county boundary in Rathowen (a county twice the size and population of mine) and threatening that if I don’t take them down immediately he will pitch his posters in Longford – that’s unchristian.

“The same “running mate” courted the councillors in my county to direct their votes and those of their constituents to him and out of their own county – that’s unchristian.”

Ms Gerety-Quinn said it is unchristian voting to abort live babies in the womb and she argued it was not unchristian of the priest to refuse communion to Robert Troy as he was being true to his vocation, and to the teaching and rules of his church.

Happier times...At the official opening of Connie Gerety-Quinn's Fianna Fáil office in Longford town in December 2015 were former Cllr Padraig Loughrey, Connie Gerety-Quinn, Joe Quinn, Deputy Dara Calleary and Deputy Robert Troy. PICTURE: Michelle Ghee

Deputy Troy took to Facebook to respond to Ms Gerety-Quinn’s post.

He pointed out, “As for my decision to vote to repeal the 8th amendment - I did so reluctantly but ultimately I did so because I felt we could no longer export our women to the U.K or force to take pills without care or supervision. Sure you can have your opinion on me but as someone who does believe in God - I will leave the judgement to him.”

On the issue of asking Ms Gerety-Quinn to remove her posters, Deputy Troy commented, “You are right about the phone call mid way through the campaign - I did ask you to stick to boundaries as I had been requested to erect my posters in Longford and declined and would prefer if boundaries would be respected. What you forget to mention is that fact I arranged for our joint poster on the big commercial advertisement on the gable of Connaughton’s bar in Rathowen for six weeks early in the new year at NO expense to you. As for my campaign and my funds, I organised both personnel and fundraised also.”

Deputy Troy refuted the allegation he ‘courted councillors’ in Longford and he insisted that he didn’t undermine Ms Gerety-Quinn.

“In relation to courting the councilors nothing could be further from the truth. I am and continue to be great friends with my colleagues. I offered to bring you around to all councilors during the Christmas break to iron out any difficulties there might be and offer an olive branch, you declined.

“Two nights before the election I was called to a meeting in Ballymahon of party members who I pleaded with to vote for you not me. As it was only my second general election campaign and given I was only marginally elected in previous election I too was anxious - if I were to rerun the campaign, would I have done things differently? Yes I would. Could I have assisted you more? Yes I could. Did I undermine you? No I didn’t.”