The new Mayor of Waterford has hit out at Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, saying there was a lack of cooperation from them in settting up the new council.

It had been hoped that all councillors would support the D’Hondt system.

It would have seen positions divided equally among all parties rather than a majority ruling through a pact.

Instead, negotiations failed and Labour’s John Pratt was elected yesterday thanks to the backing of Sinn Féin, the Green Party and the five Independents present.

“We were very honourable throughout the whole process,” Mayor Pratt told media after the meeting. “And I know as the Labour Party we were constantly trying to get everyone involved to make this an all inclusive council.”

He defeated a challenge from Fine Gael’s Damien Geoghegan, who had been supported by Fianna Fáil, while Labour’s Seamus Ryan was elected Deputy Mayor.

The Mayor said heckles from some of the parties’ members were “childish” and “politics at its worst”. He went on, “This is why people are very despondent and why wouldn’t they be?”

“I’m very, very disgusted to be honest with you,” Mayor Pratt told media after the meeting. He added that he was unhappy that on “one of the proudest days of my life, to be here talking with you about the carry on in the chamber”.

“I hope people see it for it is, it’s just absolutely disgraceful,” he continued.