Cassells gains whip on council

Navan area county councillor Shane Cassells has been appointed to the position of whip of the Fianna Fail party on Meath County Council. At 31, Cllr Cassells becomes the youngest holder of the FF whip position and takes over the role from former councillor, Seamus Murray from Longwood, who lost his seat in the June local elections At the recent annual meeting of the council, Cllr Cassells congratulated Cllr Bill Carey of Fine Gael on assuming the position of chairman. However, he launched a broadside against the negative picture of the county painted by Cllr Carey in his first address to the chamber and called on both him and Meath County Manager Tom Dowling to focus on the opportunities which Meath was poised to avail of. Fine Gael regained control of the reins of power on the council and, in a physical display of their increased numbers, occupied the seats once held by the Fianna Fail party. Both current Fianna Fail Meath West deputies, Noel Dempsey and Johnny Brady, had held the position of party whip during their terms on Meath County Council.