The new Fine Gael Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Diarmuid Scully, insisted yesterday that his decision to vote against his party's candidate for the mayoralty is an internal matter that will be dealt with by the party.
Cllr Scully (33), who dramatically crossed the floor in Monday night's election to secure the mayoralty, now faces an inquiry by Fine Gael headquarters and possible expulsion from the party.
However, he insisted yesterday that he was still a member of Fine Gael, which he first joined in Limerick as a 16-year-old.
"I'm not walking away from the party and I hope I am not pushed away," he said.
Cllr Scully won the election by nine votes to eight with the support of the Fianna Fáil and Independent members of Limerick City Council.
He angered party supporters by voting against fellow Fine Gael councillor Maria Byrne, who was the party's nominee for the post and was supported by all four other Fine Gael members.
The outgoing mayor, Cllr Michael Hourigan, said yesterday he was shocked when Cllr Scully threw his hat into the ring against the wishes of his own party.
"I was exceptionally surprised by his actions and, as far as I'm concerned, he let the party down," he said.
It is understood that Cllr Scully had expected the Fine Gael nomination ahead of the mayoral election and was angered to learn that Cllr Byrne was chosen as the candidate instead.
Cllr Scully, who was first elected to Limerick City Council in 1999, is a graduate of the University of Limerick and is a full-time councillor.
He was described by Independent councillor John Gilligan, who proposed him for the mayoralty, as someone of "huge intellectual stature".