Whatever about this revelation, I commend those who supported Senator Norris’s nomination out of a desire to see democracy served, particularly those who stated up front that despite their support of his nomination, they had another preferred candidate. I think it will be as good as impossible to find someone with the balls to do that now, and this means that the people will not get to speak outside of these pages.

As Fergus Finlay said yesterday- a child can’t consent to sex. Children depend on adults to protect them from wrong decisions they may make due to their immaturity. Saying that a child is a consenting partner seems to be an attempt to wriggle out of blame and adult responsibility. Taking advantage of that child’s youth and immaturity is an abuse. I can’t think of any nicer name for it. Isn’t that one of the approaches that child abusers take- grooming a child so they appear to consent, something that can add to the pain and suffering of the innocent victim even years after the incident or incidences.

there seems to be a double standard at play, if a 37 year old man sodomized a 15 year old girl would anyone call for leniency?

I’d like to get some dirt on the other candidates…….I’m sure that they all have skeletons in their closet.

I wonder when the outrage over Gay Mitchell’s clemency letter appealing for a reduced sentance for a murderer in America is gonna come out

*twiddles thumbs*

It’s a shame that we cannot find a person that is honourable and right for the job. it’s hard to pick a prez from the line up we have, hopefully a new person will enter the race late and not be connected with any party or any scandal. The prez is there to represent us not a political party/race/sexulity/organisation the person needs to be independent of all of these.

And Thomas pringle has withdrawn

I think his chances of securing the nominations are pretty much over. The whole timing of this event is no coincidence. It’s not like he’s just starting out in a political career hes been in the Seannad for many years so he’s been in the public eye for Many years?so the question one has to ask is why now. It is obvious that someone out there is trying to tarnish his reputation in the effort to finish him as a presidential candidate….and politicians being politicians I would not be surprised if one of the other candidates had involvement in the timing of all this.

The disappeared, those members of the Oireachtas, that previously supported Norris but now can no longer be found or contacted should scuttle out of their holes and let the man know where they stand, he certainly deserves to be treated with respect.

@Gavan – Is it not a bit presumptuous to say Norris can count on the 13 remaining votes? I mean as far as I am aware, a few supporters have been unavailable for comment, which could imply wavering support.

He hasn’t done anything any other person assigned to Dail Eireann hasn’t done. But the smear campaign lodged against him has been venomous. I have no allegiance to anybody, but if only all this uproar could be applied to Bankers and people who gave personal loans to the state, through banks, could get this level of hatred spat at them, as publicly as this, some of us could have a life.. and not still be paying for their underhanded level of corruption. Makes me mad as Hell.

It’s not in the balance. It’s done and dusted, over and out. Forget the blame game, it is of no lasting consequence. Norris’s ambiguous attitude to child abuse where always going to make him unsuitable for President. It’s just a shame that it has taken people so long to see this. He should probably resign from the senate as well and write his memoirs which I would imagine would be a very interesting read.

This is a good day for Irish politics. It shows that we are no longer prepared to allow politicians’ misdeeds to go unnoticed and ignored. There have certainly been worse offenders and hopefully they too will pay for their wrongdoing.

It seems to me that David Norris is being punished for something he did a number of years ago – a favor for a friend. How many of us would now like the decisions we made 20 plus years ago to be held up the scrutiny of the today’s microscope. We are looking at a different era, different standards and a totally different values base. Let us not forget that in the Ireland of 1997 women were being refused the sacraments of communion and confession in the so called catholic church because they refused to live with a man who was basically beating the Cr… out of them every weekend when he got a few jars on board. We can’t go and change history. I am sure if David Norris was asked to write that letter now he would make a different decision. But he needs to come out and state where he stands on this issue. Unfortunately he is a dead duck as far as his presidency bid is concerned. It will be interesting to see who is next in line to be “eliminated” by the media puppets controlled by the powers that be.

Finian McGrath has fought a long and very dedicated series of campaigns to represent his constituents. He deserves credit for his proven integrity and his decision to stand down from the Norris candidature bandwagon is the right one.

Norris should not have sought leniency for his ex-partner given the seriousness of the crime. A very poor judgement. Would he have spoken favourably of those who demanded clemency for clerical sex abusers? No, and quite rightly do.

Bad enough the letter and then to take us all for fools, hiding the fact, he is the same as them all. the political class a group of people who see us as the life form they feed on. I am angry have they no pride in being a paid public servant. Are we not worthy of respect we have to demand it,

Sean I believe Trevor sargent also tried to use his position to influence a case.he didn’t resign from the dail.

Dr Martin McAleese. An honorable man and great mediator.

If Norris was the one who was actually accused of the statutory rape I’d think differently…I’m sure most people would…..but regardless of wheter we think him appealing for clemency is right or wrong….he has the right to freedom of speech…he has the right to defend his friend/lover or whatever the hell he was to him….how on earth is this going to impact on him being a
Great president?it cant!and whatever the case I agree with David that the people of Ireland should be able to choose their president NOT the politicians.

Their support for Norris should continue on the basis that they are correcting a democratic deficit by allowing him onto the ballot paper. The people should decide what candidate would best uphold the ‘integrity of the office of President’ and certainly not two spineless Independent TDs.

I think it’s unfair that all this lob-sided dirt digging is on Sen Norris, its not as if the other two are squeaky clean, yet they have been left alone? There’s been a campaign to keep him from the presidency from day one!
And if all he has going against him is an interview quote taken out of context and a moment of bad judgement over someone he cared about, then what is he only human! I dare anyone to say they haven’t ever made a mistake!
…I can think of a few politicians who are dirtier and yet allowed to be…

I’m very disappointed, by Deputy McGrath’s decision to withdraw his support for the Nomination of Senator Norris. I have no difficultly with his decision to reverse his less than week old endorsement of Senator Norris. No, my difficultly with this evenings decision by the Deputy, is his pronouncement that it’s based on his deciding to put, “children and the Presidency first”. What exactly are we to deduce from that. Is it that, Senator Norris’s ascent to the Presidency would, would what? put children in harm, in danger, in a state of anxiety. Because, what exactly? David Norris would be residing in the Park. What exactly does the good Deputy mean, what exactly is he inferring, what exactly is he insinuating. The good Deputy is an opportunist, or to be kind, a pragmatist. We’ve seen it displayed with swagger over the last decade. His agreement with the previous government, was good enough for him, also long as it didn’t affect his local interests, his largesse, his pet projects, his being seen to bring back the pork. This elected official would struggle to ascend to the dizzying heights of a State legislature in the U.S., tis our misfortune as a small Nation, that we be saddled with such minions.

Continue the Campaign Senator, do not be deflected from your present endeavour to secure a Nomination by this minor set-back. You have from many of the comments posted here, over the last few days, and on other forums, much support. Keep the faith. Continue the fight.

Oh shut up. Every single Norris article… Always with the vitriol…

The people of Ireland want the choice to vote for David Norris, or not. Let them do it! What’s your problem?

And as for your other comment..I don’t know if I would be bothered with something so miniscule that happened years upon years ago.as I heard some woman say on television last night “we
lived in a whole different world back then.”

I am deeply saddened by what has happened to David Norris and his campaign for the presidency. I still believe in his candidacy but realise it is very unlikely now that he will achieve a nomination even. It seems to me that there has been a conspiracy against him and I believe that a good man has been dragged into the mire undeservedly. Having met him many times over the years, I believe he is a very moral man but his excellent traits of loyalty, honesty and integrity have landed him in a position which will just hang him in the world we live in!
My thoughts are with you, David. Take care ….

Jesus Christ people get over yourselves mr norris has made his bed so let him lay in it, the public will decide his roll in all this
Good men and women will always be judged by there actions it’s the way of life and more obvious in public life and they will live or die by their actions,
However in this case leverage was used thru the means of using official state stationary that implied it had the support of the state ( you and me ) which is not the case. So yes others are there probably doing similar practices and yes it’s hard to find decent politicians but that says more about us than them
Mr Norris was found out and when your found out you have to answer to the people you supposedly represent
The post of presidency requires honesty strength character and most of all the backing of your people I’m afraid that mr Norris will fall on these grounds
But the common thread is we do need an absolute out of the blue candidate not swept away by political affiliation,agendas, and so on
May we be as lucky as we have been two mega presidents in the two marys tuf boots to fill

Looks like were about to loose the best candidate and the presidency goes to the main parties another “job for the boys”. ……. Shame

Another person to throw his support behind Michael D.

Someone, somewhere is rubbing their hands in glee.

If Senator Norris pulls out, due to the events of the past few days, or rather the rehashing, regurgitating, re-heating of events along since past, which have utterly no relevance to the question before us. Namely the question of the character of David Norris, not seen through the prism, malignly created by others, to manipulate and attempt a reinterpretation of the man by the general public. If upon that, his candidacy falls, then we shall be the poorer for it, democracy shall be the poorer for it, the Republic shall be the poorer for it. And what will be exposed for all to see, at home and beyond the seas, is the pretensions of a self-proclaimed Secular Pluralist Republic. The dream, that we might make of this Nation, a Virtuous Republic, will be at an end. A grave injustice is being inflicted upon this honourable and good man, that we might acquiesce in that, by a general acclamation of silence, fills me with an enormous foreboding, of the nature of the Society about me.

The only realistic voice running for Presidency we can have in the Áras is Michael D Higgins, I am not a labour supporter so I differentiate between Him and the Party Big Time! He is a true statesman and the Labour party are sell outs. Michael D has openly stood up for the working class right through his political career.

This is just another sleazy attack on David Norris.
Which ever camp is digging these stories up should be ashamed of themselves.
We have no idea what the details of the case are and it is too easy for us to be miss led when we are deliberately not being given all the facts.
I trust in my own judgement that David Norris is man of impeccable character and I believe he will make a great president.
Good luck David!

Ya he did….I’m not arguing with that…if you bothered to read my comment more closely you would see I said that he didn’t resign from the dail. Anyway the point people are trying to make here are that they want to have the option of who they want as president. you may not want to vote for him but other people want to be given the choice…politicians or you for that matter shouldn’t decide that he can’t run for president…it’s undemocratic and unfair.

Look apply this scenario/ to any job interview or position of influence at local or international level
Wud you allow a any person in this same/similar circumstance given the information at hand and no response from said individual how wud u address it or wud you throw caution to the wind and let them have a go….
When notions or ideas are misrepresented when working in any position of authority you will and shud pay the price

Good on ye, Damien.

Framed by the church probably, like Robert Langdon

…and Ramadan Mubarak to all your families :))

I think a show of spoiled votes would be an appropriate response to the way the mainstream parties smeared David Norris into oblivion.
Put down Norris name and mark your “X” beside it.
It won’t shame the shameless, but it will put them on notice.