Mayor of Kerry Toireasa Ferris has survived a vote of no confidence following her failure to condemn the killing of Det Garda Jerry McCabe on television recently.
The Fine Gael motion was defeated during a heated debate by 12 votes to eight, with five abstentions at a meeting of the county council this morning.
The motion was tabled following Ms Ferris's appearance on the Late Late Showtwo weeks ago, where she refused to condemn the 1996 killing of Det Garda McCabe, who is from Co Kerry.
"I don't think I have the authority to do that. With that said, I do wish it hadn't occurred," the Sinn Féin coucillor told presenter Pat Kenny.
Her statement outraged many local councillors and led to both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael tabling motions condemning the killing, and the injuring of Det Ben O'Sullivan by an IRA gang in 1996.
Both motions were passed this morning, but Ms Ferris and Sinn Féin colleague Robert Beasley voted against on both occasions. A Sinn Féin motion expressing sympathy with all those killed in the Troubles was passed unanimously.
When Fine Gael then tabled a no-confidence motion - supported by all eight of its members - two Labour, two Independents and one Fianna Fáil councillor abstained.
The other Fianna Fáil councillors voted against along with two Independents, Danny and Michael Healy-Rae. Fianna Fáil has a technical arrangement with Sinn Féin for the mayor of the county and positions on key committees.
Ms Ferris had told the chamber she had been speaking as a member of Sinn Féin and not as mayor of Kerry when she appeared on the Late Late Show.
But Fine Gael's Johnny O'Connor, who first suggested the motion of no-confidence, told ireland.comthat the mayor's responsibilities were to represent the council's views. Mr O'Connor also denied press reports saying some Fine Gael members regarded his championing of the issue as a "a solo run". He noted the motion before the chamber this morning was proposed by party chairman on the council Bobby O'Connell.
Mr O'Connor said: "We felt we had no other option than to propose a vote of no confidence. Others must look into their hearts, their soul, their conscience as to why they couldn't vote for justice, fair play and sanction the protection of the gardaí.
"How will this look to people on the outside viewing us? You either condemn or you condone."
Four IRA men were convicted of the manslaughter of Det Garda McCabe in Adare Co Limerick and jailed for 11 to 14 years.