DailyMail.co.uk A town council has disbanded after members staged a mass walkout in protest at being constantly criticised by a lone internet blogger.
Eleven of the 15 members on Somerton Town Council, in Somerset, resigned after being subjected to three years of online abuse.
The blog was started by resident Niall Connolly, 58, who first attacked the council after plans for a community hall were scrapped.
Disillusioned: Niall Connolly, 58, has caused 11 members of Somerton Town Council to walk out after attacking them in his blog Muck&BrassCouncillors claim the blog has become increasingly bitter and personal, with members described as ‘clowns’, ‘hypocrites’ and ‘jackasses’.
One councillor – who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being singled out by the blogger – said: ‘The abuse became too much.
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The story, as it was reported in the immediate aftermath of the mass resignation, failed to highlight Somerton Town Council’s efforts to obstruct Freedom of Information enquiries made by Niall Connolly. The reporting also missed the fact that Niall Connolly had lodged a formal objection to Somerton Town Council’s audited accounts.
Today, some six months later, Somerton is awaiting the publication of the External Auditor’s ‘Report in the Public Interest’ and the disclosure of the External Auditors findings. It is understood that significant financial irregularities have been uncovered involving the expenditure of Public Money on the ‘Community Hall’ building, a project which was not given any public consultation before the Town Council decided to purchase it.
The ‘Lone Blogger’ was a feeble attempt to deflect attention from the real issues.
Niall Connolly