Resignation of Darren Scully, Mayor of Naas, After Racial Comments

Alert DateNovember 22, 2011 Country: Ireland Address: Kfm Broadcast Centre, Newhall, Naas, Co. Kildare. Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia, Afrophobia
General Type: Racist discourse Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants, Refugees, Ethnic minorities Strands: Racism Key Areas: Political Parties-organisations - Racist & Xenophobic Discourse, Policing - Law Enforcement - Justice, Health And Social Protection, Political & Civic Participation, Racist violence - Hate Speech Statistics, Discrimination Statistics

On 22 November 2011, Darren Scully spoke about his interactions with his constituents, stating that black Africans generally displayed an 'aggressive attitude'.  He went on to say that "After a while I made a decision that I was just not going to take on representations from black Africans, that I would be very courteous to them and I would pass on their query to other public representatives who would take their concerns".  After discussions with his party Fine Gael, Scully resigned from the mayorial position, though he maintained his councillor position.   He described the week as "the worst week of [his] life".  In December 2011, Mr. Willie O’Callaghan of Fianna Fáil was elected as the new Mayor of Naas.

For further discussion of the event and its aftermath, see all the sources below.

Sources:

 

Breakingnews.ie - ‘Naas Mayor refuses to represent black Africans’ - 22/11/2011 - 10:37:28
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/naas-mayor-refuses-to-represent-black-africans-529297.html

TheJournal.ie - Fine Gael investigating Mayor’s race comments - 22/11/2011
(includes link to audio from radio interview)
http://www.thejournal.ie/fine-gael-investigating-mayors-race-comments-285373-Nov2011/

Breakingnews.ie - Mayor of Naas stands down after race remarks - 22/11/2011 - 18:21:29
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mayor-of-naas-stands-down-after-race-remarks-529372.html

The Irish Times - FG mayor quits over race comments - 22/11/2011 - 18:34
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1122/breaking30.html

TV3 - Mayor of Naas resigns over comments - 22/11/2011
(includes video)
http://www.tv3.ie/article.php?locID=1.2.&article_id=64795

RTE - Darren Scully, Mayor of Naas, resigns after radio outburts about ‘black Africans’ - 23/11/2011 - 10:28
(link contains two videos and one audio response)
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1122/scullyd.html

The Irish Times - 'The worst week of my life': the aftermath of a racist comment – 26/11/2011
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/1126/1224308164751.html

The Irish Times - O’Callaghan (Fianna Fáil) wins Naas mayor vote - 21/12/2011
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1221/1224309341097.html

Irish Central - Darren Scully’s comments considered one of IrishCentral’s top ten quotes of 2011 - 4/1/2012
(Ninth photo)
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/IrishCentrals-top-ten-quotes-of-2011---a-slideshow-136697393.html#ixzz1jMugrrFz