‘He was never good at taking orders from anyone’ — Wexford Fianna Fáil councillor refutes allegations made by former party colleague

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

He may have left the party but Gorey councillor Joe Sullivan is continuing to cause consternation among his former colleagues in Fianna Fáil. In this instance a throwaway comment made at the AGM of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District (GKMD) has forced one of those erstwhile colleagues to issue a rebuke.

During the AGM, at which independent councillor Mary Farrell was named as the new cathaoirleach of the district, Cllr Sullivan apologised to the incoming chair for his behaviour in the past.

“I have to apologise for not voting alongside you on a number of issues over the years,” he said to Cllr Farrell. “Unfortunately I was prompted by the man on my left on those occasions.”

The man on his left was Fianna Fáil councillor Pip Breen, and he has dismissed the insinuation that he had been instructing Cllr Sullivan how to vote during their 12 years together on the council.

“I didn’t reply during the meeting when he made that allegation, but I totally refute it, I never asked him to vote against Cllr Farrell, ever,” said Cllr Breen.

Rather than simply contest Cllr Sullivan’s allegation, Cllr Breen said he has gone through the minutes of meetings dating back to 2014 and could not find one instance which backed up the claim.

“Those votes he’s talking about never happened, I went back as far as 2014 to when he started and went through all the meetings. Joe Sullivan never took instructions from me. I never asked him to vote for me the three times I was in the chair. He may have voted against Mary during that time but not at my behest.”

Cllr. Joe Sullivan speaking at the Wicklow -Wexford Garda Division Policing Awards 2026 at Tulfarris Hotel. © Barry Hamilton

One thing which Cllr Breen did wish to clarify was that, under party rules, any member of Fianna Fáil must vote for their party colleague if they are proposed for either the chair or vice-chair. Those who do not adhere to these guidelines face suspension from the party.

And even if he had tried to influence his former colleague, Cllr Breen said it’s unlikely he would have been listened to.

“Joe was never any good at taking orders from anyone, and he wasn’t going to take them from me.”

Describing Cllr Breen’s comments as a “naive and clumsy attempt to discredit” him, Cllr Sullivan said during his time in Fianna Fáil all votes were “well and truly organised” before anyone sat down.

While he admits to being “led around by more senior members of the council” upon first being elected, Cllr Sullivan said that, as time went on, he chose to go against the party line.

“That’s probably an area within Fianna Fáil that I didn’t conform to,” said the newly independent councillor. “I wasn’t a conformist to having the deals done and the votes organised. I voted on everything on its merits.”

Asked how his departure from Fianna Fáil would impact upon his ability to work alongside his former colleagues, Cllr Sullivan said he “couldn’t care less” about them and would be focusing on doing what’s best for the “people of the Gorey Kilmuckridge District”.

“I am actually not in any way concerned about Fianna Fáil or what they’ll do. That’s none of my concern. I will be representing the people that elected me and their voice is what I’m there to represent and nothing else.”