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Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
Cavan
Garda whistleblower John Wilson drops out of local election race because of ill health
The former garda said he was not physically strong enough to run in the elections.
GARDA WHISTLEBLOWER JOHN Wilson has said he is dropping out of the race for the upcoming local elections due to ill health.
Wilson had planned to run as an independent in the six-seater Cavan-Belturbet area in the elections on 23 May. He said he made the decision to run after a number of people in the area approached him to do so.
However in an interview today, Wilson said he was not physically strong enough to run in the elections. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer earlier this year.
Speaking to The Joe Finnegan Show on Shannonside FM, Wilson said he was deeply disappointed that he was unable to run.
“If I can’t give 100 per cent commitment to running, there’s no point. I don’t believe in half measures,” he said.
Wilson was a member of An Garda Síochána for more than 30 years before resigning twelve months ago.
In 2012, he revealed details of penalty points terminations within the force which are now the subject of an inquiry.
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