An SDLP Councillor who did not declare a conflict of interest during a discussion surrounding the future of St. Mary's High School, Brollagh, and then abstain from the vote has explained why he did this.

Councillor Garbhan McPhillips was criticised on social media by Sinn Féin Councillor Chris McCaffery for abstaining from a vote on the draft response to the consultation during the Policy and Resources Committee meeting, which led to some back and forth between Councillors from both parties.

The discussion around the draft response showed widespread support to oppose the closure of the rural school, with the SDLP's Adam Gannon vocal on many issues surrounding the proposal for closure.

Other Councillors including Sinn Féin's Siobhán Currie and Chris McCaffery, the SDLP's John Coyle, Cross-Community Labour Alternative's Donal O'Cofaigh, the UUP's Alex Baird and Victor Warrington and Deborah Armstrong of the DUP spoke on the topic.

Councillor McPhillips did not take any part in the discussion.

The majority of Councillors at the meeting voted to accept the draft response with added points, however some Councillors did abstain.

Following Councillor McCaffery's post, Councillor McPhillips released a statement of his own: "My party are 100% behind the fight to keep St. Mary's Brollagh open. I simply took no part in the discussion and abstained from the vote. This was a complete cheap political shot on an issue that is an extremely important for the entire community."

Normal procedure for Councillors who may have a conflict of interest is to declare this and leave the chamber.

Explaining the reason why he did not declare his interest, Councillor McPhillips said that his employment in a school named in the report was the reason for his abstention.

"I didn’t initially declare it because I felt at the time that there was no need to because I felt it wasn’t going to go to a vote or anything like that. I felt there was going to be no issue with it. I did come out in the end up and declare an interest and abstain from the vote, and for the record I had no input into discussions or anything like that.

"And of course Councillor McCaffery had to publicise it on social media like I was against keeping Brollagh open which is total nonsense. My party are all for the retention of all schools in Fermanagh so it was complete nonsense on his part."

Councillor McPhillips said he made it clear during Any Other Business at the end of the meeting that he had an interest and his reason for abstaining and to show he had nothing to hide.

"If Councillors were doing their jobs properly they wouldn’t be on social media during meetings but that’s another story. But I felt because it was all over social media with my name plastered all over it pinpointed as if I was against the fight to keep Brollagh open which I am not. I am for the retention of all the school in Fermanagh."