‘You’re talking nonsense’ row erupts in Moyle

At one stage of the meeting, Cllr Padraig McShane (Independent) accused Cllr Seamus Blaney (Independent) of “spewing rubbish” and being “twenty years behind the times” when Cllr Blaney asked for an update regarding grants for shops in Castle Street, Ballycastle.

Cllr McShane said Cllr Blaney should join Ballycastle Town Partnership to be aware of developments. Cllr Blaney said he had previously been on the group.

Later, during a discussion about tourist information in Bushmills, Cllr McShane said the Council Vice-Chair, Cllr Robert McIlroy (DUP), was talking “nonsense”.

Cllr McIlroy responded sarcastically: “Everybody seems to talk nonsense in this Chamber apart from Cllr McShane.”

Later there was another verbal bust-up between Council Chairperson, Cllr Cara McShane (Sinn Fein) and Cllr Sharon McKillop (Traditional Unionist Voice).

During a debate about funding for sports clubs, Cllr Cara McShane told Cllr McKillop she welcomed her “contribution” to the discussion claiming the TUV member had changed her point of view on the matter.

Cllr McKillop said she was “not having the way you are responding to me” and said she took “offence” at the way she is treated by the Sinn Fein representative. Moments later Cllr McKillop left the chamber.

Earlier, during the discussion about funding for sports clubs, Sinn Fein councillor Colum Thompson said he was involved with a GAA club and they had good experience of applying for grants and funding.

He said he had made the offer before and would repeat it that if Cllr McKillop or any other councillor wanted guidance and assistance to help other clubs avail of funds he would be more than happy to organise a meeting.

There was no response to that in the chamber from Cllr McKillop.