Dublin City Councillors have voted against co-opting an Inner City Helping Homeless worker to fill the late Anthony Flynn's seat for a second time.
The former CEO of the homeless charity, which has since been wound up, was found dead in a house in East Wall in August last year and his seat has remained vacant since then.
A group of Independents nominated long-time worker within the now disbanded charity Geraldine Molloy for the second time at Monday night's meeting of Dublin City Councillors.
Read more: Motion to fill late Anthony Flynn's Dublin City Council seat fails to pass
It is understood the ongoing garda investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by Cllr Flynn caused consternation among many councillors who had been asked to vote on the co-option of Geraldine Molloy previously.
The vote went ahead without a debate to the dismay of some Councillors. There were 23 votes for, 27 against and 10 abstentions on the motion.
Councillor Christy Burke, who has been a strong advocate for the co-option, told the chamber the people of the North Inner City have been almost one year without proper representation.
He said: "At the end of the day Lord Mayor, I want to make a very political point. The people of the North Inner City are really one year without adequate, correct political representation.
"That is a great shame and an insult to the people of the North Inner City."
Sinn Fein's Larry O'Toole tried to make his case for Ms Malloy to take the seat but was cut short by the Lord Mayor who said it had been agreed at the leader's meeting that the motion would be voted on without a debate.
Independent Councillor John Lyons said he "didn't feel comfortable" leaving the North Inner City without full representation but added there are "serious issues at play".
Earlier in the meeting, People Before Profit Councillor Tina MacVeigh was temporarily replaced by Deirdre Cronin, who has been a teacher in the Liberties for 20 years.
Cllr MacVeigh stepped down from her role due to an immediate family member going through a health crisis which required the Councillor to care for the ill family member.
Read more: High Court orders winding up of Inner City Helping Homeless
Read more: Vote to replace Anthony Flynn on Dublin City Council deferred at last minute
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