RESULT: Kildare County Council – Naas: Darren Scully (FG) elected
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 24, 2014
Controversial former mayor of Naas Darren Scully has been elected to Kildare County Council.
Previously: Darren Scully on Broadsheet
File pic: Graham Hughes/Photocall Ireland
[Former Naas Mayor and Fine Gael councillor Darren Scully (pictured at FG HQ, Mount Street, Dublin in 2005) who was forced to resign in 2011 after saying he would not represent ”black African’ constituents. He apologised and returned to Fine Gael last month]
Darren Scully sat down with the University Times to clear the air once and for all about his real feelings toward ‘black Africans’…
“I had met a lot of people, particularly from the black community, who were looking for a lot — demanding a lot — and I was just very unhappy with it — the way they were dealing with it.”
“After the event [his resignation], the good thing that came out of all this, was that I was contacted by a lot of groups and organisations, particularly from the African community themselves. I met with a few individuals, and it’s kind of funny: I met with one gentleman who was from Uganda, and he said to me if you had said that you wouldn’t deal with any more Nigerians, you would have been perfect, you know? He said ‘we’re Ugandans and we hate Nigerians’. Same way other people from other African countries say ‘we hate Nigerians’ because of the way they come across: their cultures, their traditions.”
“I said black Africans. Now I really shouldn’t have even said black Africans. I should have said certain people from a certain part of Africa. That’s what I should have said. And the mistake was that I generalised. I said all black Africans. And that was a mistake. But I had issues, issues with certain nationalities, which I’m not going to discuss now. There’s no point. Certain nationalities from the continent of Africa who are very demanding. And I had been thrown the race card several times. Now, I don’t like that. I don’t like being bullied and threatened by any person. And that’s what really kind of annoyed me.”
That’s cleared that up then.
More here: Delicate Recollection (Edmund Heaphy, The University Times)
Previously: Darren Scully on broadsheet
(Graham Hughes/Photocall Ireland)
Thanks Leanna Byrne
Forgiven Fine Gael returnee councillor Darren Scully (above with Enda Kenny in 2011) was interviewed by Niall Boylan on Classic Hits 4FM in November 2011 to defend his decision not to represent black people.
Niall Boylan: “You very clearly said, if a Black Nigerian woman came to your clinic looking for representation, or advice that you would ask her to go to someone else.”
Darren Scully: “Do I not have a right to whom I want to represent?”
Boylan: “You’re a public representative!”
Scully: “No, no, sorry, sorry…”
Boylan: “You’re a public representative!”
Scully: “No, no, no, no..”
Boylan: “You represent the people of this country!”
Scully: “I just made a conscious decision…
Boylan: “But that’s racism!”
Scully: “It’s not, it’s not being racist!”
Boylan: “Yes it is, of course, you’re dicrimminating against someone purely because he’s African!”
Scully: “I choose every day whether to represent people or not. Sometimes I get queries from people who..
Boylan: “Based on the colour of their skin?”
Scully: “No, no, no no!”
Boylan: “Where they’re from?”
Scully: “No. I have made a conscious decision that because of the treatment that I have received from Black Africans in relation to dealing with representations on the council, I have made a decision, I do no longer want to take those representations . It does not reflect…[interrupts]”
Boylan: “Hold on a second, could you imagine Darren, making that same decision, publicly, to not represent members of The Travelling Community, or women, let’s say women, for example. Maybe you’ve had a bad experience with women and now you won’t represent women. Could you imagine…”
Scully: “…of course there’d be public outcry!”
Boylan: “So why is this so different?”
Scully: “No matter – as you said Niall, no matter who, if I made a comment about any person, or background and said I no longer want to represent them – that’s my view, that’s my opinion. But then people will make a decision on that when it comes to the next election.”
Boylan: “Darren, you’re a brave man, I have to say that to you, you’re a very brave man to come in and convey your convictions and that’s what you feel, and many people may disagree with you. Just in relation to our text poll tonight, 85% of people agree with what Darren said and they think he’s right in saying what he says. The point is, the rest of us obviously disagree, do you think this interview may have damaged your political career?”
Scully: “On my death-bed, I will not regret it!”
Boylan: “So, you’ll stand up for what you said earlier?”
Scully: “Absolutely, I think, and I would encourage anyone who has listened to this broadcast tonight, if they have opinions, they should express them and never be afraid to say what you feel.”
Yay racism.
Earlier: ‘A Huge Mistake’
(Photocall Ireland)
Thanks Mike Hogan
Further to the news that former mayor and councillor Darren Scully, who in 2011 said he would no longer represent black Africans in Naas, Co. Kildare, is returning to Fine Gael, The Integration Centre writes:
Reacting to news that Cllr Darren Scully of Kildare County Council has been reinstated to stand in next year’s local elections, The Integration Centre believes Fine Gael is making a huge mistake.
Killian Forde, CEO of The Integration Centre [top] said: “Fine Gael had a clear opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to anti-racism and diversity in their own organisation. With this decision they send a clear message that racist remarks by elected representatives are okay with them.
The issue for TIC has little to do with Cllr Scully’s original remarks. He is free and entitled to his own prejudices and to express intolerance, as is his right. The electors can judge him for that.
However, Fine Gael has given a commitment to ensuring their party is not a home for people who express intolerance publicly.
Minister Alan Shatter has done a fine job in conferring citizenship on tens of thousands of new Irish citizens. What sort of mixed message does this send from Fine Gael to these new Irish citizens?”
Previously: He’s Back
Cllr Darren Scully Reinstatement Is A Strategic Mistake (The Integration Centre)
(From left: Former Naas Mayor and Fine Gael Cllr Darren Scully with Enda Kenny during the 2007 General Election and Nigeria-born David Agboola, then aged six.)
You’ll recall how, in November 2011, FG Cllr Darren Scully made the decision to stop representing black Africans.
He subsequently resigned from his mayoral role and was expelled from the Fine Gael party.
Well he’s back.
KFM is reporting:
“In an exclusive extended interview on Kildare Today, the General Secretary of Fine Gael Tom Curran confirmed Cllr Scully’s readmission to the party ahead of next May’s local elections.”
“During the interview, Tom Curran condemned Cllr Scully’s original remarks, but said that the Cllr is not a racist and that he’s paid sufficiently for his error.”
“Asked if Taoiseach Enda Kenny endorsed councillor Scully’s return, Mr. Curran indicated that the Taoiseach doesn’t become involved with every aspect of the party.”
EXCLUSIVE: Darren Scully To Return To Fine Gael (KFM)
Previously: The Extraordinary Darren Scully Interview
Thanks Richard Chambers