A COUNCILLOR accused of abusive behaviour and foul language at a residents' group meeting reacted angrily when allegations were made against him at last night's Burnley Council meeting.

Twice Coun Harry Brooks said Coun Joe Tierney had referred abusively to members of a Lowerhouse group and that the Palace House residents group had unanimously decided: "that they would like to have little to do with Coun Tierney in the future, due to his unreasonable behaviour and foul language.''

Coun Tierney said: "He doesn't know about anything which went on. He is taking on the wrong one when he takes me on. I am not having that sort of treatment from Coun Brooks or anyone else.

"The allegations he has made are false, he is just muck spreading like he always has done. Why should we put up with trash like this?''

Council leader Coun Stuart Caddy said an investigation had been carried out and everyone concerned had been interviewed. "They are false allegations'' he said.

He was astounded at the support Coun Tierney had from the people in the Lowerhouse area. Independent witnesses had stated quite clearly that words used were not the words quoted (by Coun Brooks).

He had a full file on the problems in Lowerhouse. Members of the board had resigned and there had been a clash of personalities. One officer had resigned because politics had come into it and that was a sad reflection on the council.

Coun Caddy added: "Coun Brooks just wants to make the headlines.

"I have expressed my concerns that people have not been behaving with the accountability to the tenants which are their rights. I am extremely concerned about it and the sooner they have an AGM down there the far happier I will be."

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