Is David Norris Toast?

Homophobia is not the issue here.

There was no real emphasis on how appalled he was at Ezra's "disgraceful behaviour" in the letter.

tayto lover wrote: »

Wrong. He brought it on himself by foolishly writing a letter in defence of a child sex abuser. Plain and simple. At least he had the decency to apologize and withdraw from the election process.

Statutory rape not child abuse. The bigots, gay bashers, and homophobes have won. Sad day for Ireland. Had to stop him as it looked like he would win. As for me I will be voting for NONE OF THE ABOVE..........

Norris was wrong to write the letter as he did. Regardless of any questions of 'nuance' about the case the bottom line is - how would you feel if your 15-year-old son/daughter had a sexual relationship with a 45 year old man. If the man was subsequently convicted via due process how would you feel about say, a US Senator writing an appeal for clemency?

The issue of using headed notepaper is absurd. Politicians of all hues have been using headed notepaper for all manner of correspondence - some of which could be regarded as inappropriate or improper - Norris is by no means the only one to have done so, especially not in the 90s. So, even if he was wrong here, he was not uniquely wrong, and this issue is minor anyway.

I hold the view that Norris is a fundamentally decent man who has done our society a lot of good. He certainly has made mistakes, and this one has cost him his opportunity to run for presidency.

His attempt to get a nomination highlights the need for change in the Presidential nomination process - a process in which the various political parties have too much influence. It will be a positive legacy of his campaign, if this issue can be dealt with in the forthcoming referendum - but I expect there is no hope of that.

- Foxt

Statutory rape is a separate crime from Child abuse in law that's the difference

FoxT wrote: »

Norris was wrong to write the letter as he did. Regardless of any questions of 'nuance' about the case the bottom line is - how would you feel if your 15-year-old son/daughter had a sexual relationship with a 45 year old man. If the man was subsequently convicted via due process how would you feel about say, a US Senator writing an appeal for clemency?

The issue of using headed notepaper is absurd. Politicians of all hues have been using headed notepaper for all manner of correspondence - some of which could be regarded as inappropriate or improper - Norris is by no means the only one to have done so, especially not in the 90s. So, even if he was wrong here, he was not uniquely wrong, and this issue is minor anyway.

I hold the view that Norris is a fundamentally decent man who has done our society a lot of good. He certainly has made mistakes, and this one has cost him his opportunity to run for presidency.

His attempt to get a nomination highlights the need for change in the Presidential nomination process - a process in which the various political parties have too much influence. It will be a positive legacy of his campaign, if this issue can be dealt with in the forthcoming referendum - but I expect there is no hope of that.

- Foxt

^^This

Every cloud and all that...now, if his supporters and others who agree that the process is biased towards the status quo get together maybe they can change the process.

hestia wrote: »

colm o'gorman and andrew madden, both victims of clerical abuse and founding members of One in Four, as well as being the most vociferous critics against all sources of child abuse, are on public record this week as condemning any neat comparision between the two. forget that though, bring on the crucifix.

Therefore no one else is allowed to have a different opinion ?

Godge wrote: »

Well, I happen to know a few people (both male and female) who were once 15-year olds and who were sexually abused by older males and who have suffered since. They are still fully aware of who they had sex with.

There is a certain flippant attitude on this thread and out there that sure it was consensual, what was the harm (it was only a bit of pederastry, that was educating the young lad, and sure isn't Norris' partner a good and moral person) mirrors the attitude of the Catholic heirarchy to sexual abuse by priests. I know both sides would hate it but the supporters of Norris who see nothing morally wrong with what he (and his partner) did and the supporters of the Church who see nothing wrong with what was done in Cloyne look more and more like each other all the time - a bit like the pigs and humans in Animal Farm.

I must say as a young teenager, I had very unwelcome and unwanted attention from older men and ut was not pleasant.

zuroph wrote: »

but if it was wanted and welcome you can accept that it could have been pleasant, right?

I have to say as a 15 yr old I wouldn't have rejected any attention from older men or women, but hey that's me. I will say though that having sex with a 15 yr old wouldn't be my scene.

zuroph wrote: »

so a 15 year old is not capable of enjoying a sexual experience? explain the amount of them having sex then? what magic happens when they turn 16 in israel, or 17 in ireland? besides the legalities of it, you've just said that a 15 year old who was a willing and wanting participant in a sex act is partaking in something sick and depraved.

First I didnt mention the age, second i dont know any hetrosexual kid would wants to be approached by some pervert preying on young teens. third even discussing it is unpleasant so i will not post further on the matter.