Deputy Mattie McGrath has issued a strong rebuttal to claims he has done little or nothing for Clonmel during his time in Dáil Éireann.
The South Tipp Independent was criticised by Fine Gael election candidate Michael Murphy on Tipp FM his week.
The Mayor of Clonmel also questioned what Seamus Healy had delivered for the town during his time as a TD.
Both candidates have hit back pointing to the damage caused to Clonmel by Fine Gael including the closure of Kickham Barracks, the loss of the Borough Council and the closure of the mental health unit in St Michael’s.
Following a canvass in Clonmel yesterday Deputy McGrath took to social media to point out that he has championed Clonmel hundreds of times in Leinster House.
“I’ve raised the issue of Clonmel town centre with Taoiseach Kenny asking him to set up a taskforce to do something for Clonmel.
“I’ve raised it 286 times in this present Dáil and indeed over the last 17 years over 800 occasions I have raised issues about Clonmel town – lack of Gardaí, lack of investment, vandalism, anti-social behaviour, everything else – so I won’t take any snide remarks from Councillor Murphy or anybody else.”
“He likes to think now he can come in on a broomstick – its Halloween I know – and there’s no issues in Clonmel.
“Fine Gael closed the Borough Council – we lost €20 million per annum investment. They also took away our mental health services and Kickham Barracks – the biggest blow of all time. The saddest day for Clonmel that was ever in the town when the army left Clonmel.
“It will be time for Michael Murphy to talk when he has as much tilled as I have ploughed.”
