A war of words broke out at the latest Clare County Council meeting as two representatives clashed over speaking rights.
Lissycassey Councillor PJ Kelly and Cathaoireleach James Breen engaged in a heated exchanges, with each accusing the other of "bullying".
Fianna Fail's PJ Kelly raised a number a reservations over a proposal to seek a loan of 4.4 million euro towards the cost of a new county library for Clare, particularly in view of 100 million euro in borrowings already being paid back by the Council.
However, Cathaoireleach James Breen ruled some of his questions out of order as they were not included in the agenda, the second time the pair had clashed on procedural points during the meeting.
After a lengthy row, Councillor Kelly eventually left the chamber in protest, claiming efforts were being made to silence him.
Afterwards, he hit out the Cathaoireleach's conduct.
Eventually, councillors approved the plan to seek a loan to complete the new library, which is to be located next to the Glor Theatre in Ennis.
19 voted in favour, 2 against and there were two abstentions.
Independent Councillor Breen says he was completely satifisfied that the had acted correctly in his role as Chairman of the meeting.
He says, as far as he's concerned, he implemented the rules correctly, and the matter is now over.
