Fine Gael local election candidate drops out after confirming receipt of money from builder to withdraw objection to housing development

BREAKING | 

Fine Gael local election candidate Marian Agrios has withdrawn from the local elections.

Marian Agrios pictured with Taoiseach Simon Harris last month.

A Louth Fine Gael candidate has dramatically dropped out of the local elections race, after she confirmed receiving money from a builder to withdraw her objection to a housing development near her Termonfeckin home.

Marian Dwyer-Agrios issued a statement on social media confirming the report made in The Ditch on Monday, and has asked voters not to select her as a councillor for Drogheda Rural.

“Following a report published online yesterday (Monday), I wish to announce I will not be contesting the 2024 Local Elections.

“What occurred was wrong and I am extremely sorry for it. It should not have happened.

“While my name remains on the ballot paper, I now ask that voters do not consider me for election.

Once again, I apologise for what happened. It should not have occurred.

I will not be making any further comment on this issue”.

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The report outlines how a developer applied to Louth County Council in October 2019 for permission to build six extra residential units at its Balfeddock Manor development in Termonfeckin.

Fine Gael’s Marian Agrios, who lives beside the new housing estate, is reported to have lodged a one-page objection to the development on November 24, 2019.

The sole grounds for the objection was said to be the increase in the number of proposed houses “exceeds the limit of the local area plan”.

Marian Agrios pictured with Taoiseach Simon Harris last month.

The developer received permission but Marian Agrios could still appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

The Ditch report says the builder agreed to pay Agrios €15,000 in cash and carry out €15,000 worth of work on her home in exchange for the withdrawal of her objection to the Termonfeckin development, according to a legal agreement signed by both parties on 20 January, 2020”.

Fine Gael’s TD for Louth Fergus O’Dowd said he was ‘absolutely shocked and horrified’ by what had happened, and said she took the only course of action.

“To withdraw her name is 100% the right decision and I was disgusted by what I heard,” Deputy O’Dowd told the Drogheda Independent. “I apologise to people who have been offended – people within Fine Gael have been deeply offended – but we have to move on now and get Anne Marie Ford elected in that area as she is a fine candidate”.

Ms Dwyer-Agrios did not respond to calls or requests to comment further.

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