Mayo councillor considers resigning over media ban imposed by county's law and order forum

A motion has been placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Mayo Community Safety Partnership to invite the local media to cover its meetings.

The motion, signed by Councillor Donna Sheridan and Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, calls on chairman Councillor Michael Loftus and members to open all meetings to the press in line with the former Mayo Joint Policing Committee, which the partnership replaces.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne told The Connaught Telegraph that it is his intention to resign from the partnership if it continues to fly in the face of democracy by conducting its business behind closed doors.

"I trust the local media to cover matters in a fair, sensitive and impartial manner like it previously did with the joint policing committee.

"Communities and parishes throughout Mayo are entitled to know what's happening - or not happening - in regard to crime prevention and other issues of law and order on their doorsteps.

"I will not be part of a committee that insists on keeping such information confidential. That's not what public representation is about. If this is allowed, where will it stop?

"Other counties have invited the press in and we should do the same."

The next meeting takes place at Ballina Civic Offices on Thursday, April 30, at 2 p.m. There are 27 members, of which seven are elected members of Mayo County Council.