Stephen Donnelly: ‘I have never been accused of being work-shy’

Former Social Democrats TD Stephen Donnelly said he expects to make a decision on his political future relatively soon, following consultations with his supporters in Wicklow.

Mr Donnelly began these talks hours after his departure from the Social Democrats yesterday, which saw the Wicklow deputy and some of his former colleagues engage in bitter exchanges. Catherine Murphy, who was one of three co-leaders along with Róisín Shortall and Mr Donnelly, said his departure did not come as a surprise, adding that he had been disengaged for some time.

A party statement said the Social Democrats were “disappointed that he has decided to walk away from the project we undertook to establish and build the party”.

Despite Mr Donnelly consulting his supporters about his future, including the prospect of joining another political party, Jennifer Whitmore, a local Social Democrats councillor in his Wicklow constituency, and a long-term supporter of Mr Donnelly, said she would remain with the party but was disappointed to see him leave.

Sharp exchanges

The exchanges with his Dáil colleagues Ms Murphy and Ms Shortall were sharper, with Mr Donnelly rejecting suggestions that he did not realise the level of work required to build a new political party.

"It is an unfortunate line that Catherine and Róisín are taking," he told RTÉ Radio. "Nobody who starts a new political party is work-shy.

“I have certainly been accused of all manner of things in my time. I have never been accused of being work-shy.”

Ms Murphy, Ms Shortall and a number of Social Democrat councillors and activists insist they will continue the work of building the party, such as preparing for a national conference in the months ahead and finalising a party constitution.

It is understood that Ms Murphy and Ms Shortall had been expecting Mr Donnelly’s departure for some time and that his decision was conveyed to them at a meeting in recent days.

It is also understood Ms Shortall asked Mr Donnelly what his political intentions were, and whether he wanted to join another party, at the meeting.

Mr Donnelly is said to have replied: “Independent, for the time being.”

Prior to the foundation of the Social Democrats, Mr Donnelly had been associated with a move to Fianna Fáil, which he denied at the time.

Mr Donnelly released a statement saying he was leaving “after a prolonged period of consideration” and also countered that the shared leadership with Ms Shortall and Ms Murphy was not working.

“It is a fact that some partnerships, in every walk of life, simply don’t work no matter how hard all of the parties to that partnership try to make it succeed.

“My decision is based on the fact that for the Social Democrats to achieve its potential as a party of significant influence and scale, despite the many obstacles new parties face, one critical component is that the leadership team must function very well together as a team.

“In spite of everyone’s best efforts, I have concluded that our partnership did not have that.”

A Social Democrats statement said: “We wish Stephen the best in his future endeavours and look forward, with excitement, to the future development of the Social Democrats.”