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Blow for the Social Democrats as councillor withdraws from election

Longford councillor Gerry Warnock cited “family and professional obligations” as the reason.

Updated 5.15pm 

COUNCILLOR GERRY WARNOCK will no longer contest the general election for the Social Democrats as the party today confirmed it will run 14 candidates in total.

Warnock, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, released a statement earlier, saying he made the decision “after much consideration”.

“Unfortunately, due to family and professional obligations, it is not possible for me to apply myself totally to an election campaign,” he said.

“It is my belief that anything less than total commitment would not reflect the seriousness of my intent to represent the people of Longford/Westmeath and would not do me, the Social Democrats or most importantly the electorate the justice deserved.

Warnock, who was previously independent, said he has informed his party colleagues and remains “very much committed to the Social Democrats and the ideals of the party”.

14 candidates 

One of the Social Democrats’ three leaders, Róisín Shortall, confirmed the party has finalised its slate of candidates and will have 14 in total with the election expected to take place next month.

The former Labour TD said she was disappointed that Warnock cannot contest the election and said the party looked forward to working closely with him in the future.

“We made a very conscious decision early on that we would focus on the quality of our candidates rather than the quantity,” Shortall said.

As a new party determined to build a real political alternative in Ireland we feel it is of vital importance to have the right people with us at this pivotal time in the building of the party.

Priorities 

Warnock thanked the party for giving him the opportunity to run, and the volunteers who worked on his campaign to date.

“My priorities going forward are to continue to represent and promote Longford in my capacity as Cathaoirleach,” Warnock said, adding that his main focus will be Longford’s regeneration project.

Warnock concluded the statement by wishing all candidates luck in the election.

It is not an easy thing to put one’s self forward for public office and I admire anyone, irrespective of their political beliefs, who has the courage and the conviction to put themselves out there.

He added that it’s his “strong intention to take part in future campaigns”.

The Social Democrats launched last July. It is led by former independent TDs Catherine Murphy, Shortall and Stephen Donnelly. 

- additional reporting from Hugh O’Connell 

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44 Comments
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    Mute David Naylor
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    Jun 11th 2019, 1:01 PM

    Autoglass Windscreen Repair’s stock has risen significantly since..

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    Mute Chris Linehan
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    Jun 11th 2019, 4:16 PM

    @David Naylor: Ridiculously useless fact: over here they’re called Carglass. Same jingle and all.

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    Mute David Naylor
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    Jun 11th 2019, 5:22 PM

    @Chris Linehan: it’s a joke man

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    Mute Chris Linehan
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    Jun 11th 2019, 6:10 PM

    @David Naylor: Christ. My comment was as described and just a useless fact referencing the English in their Germany based branding and their German in their Ireland based branding. Now that you’ve gone and failed to recognise the lighthearted banter and then had to identify you’re comment as the obvious joke that it was, followed by me writing this comment, means between the two of us, we’ve now sucked all the craic out of this. Sound.

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    Mute William Tallon
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    Jun 11th 2019, 2:12 PM

    There’s no scientific evidence that this event has anything to do with global warming. Giant hailstones have been recorded throughout history when the climate was both warmer and colder than it is today. It’s nothing new. It’s weather. It neither proves nor disproves if global warming is happening. For example…

    ‘On July 12, 1984, a powerful hailstorm pummeled Munich. This ferocious hailstorm travelled at 60 to 70 km/h and left some 70,000 homes with roof damage; seriously dinged more than 200,000 automobiles and about 150 aircraft; and injured more than 400 people…’

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    Mute james boylan
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    Jun 11th 2019, 2:39 PM

    @William Tallon:
    This is true. One time I was in Bavaria about 30 years ago, the same thing had happened. I saw a good number of cars that had been badly damaged by hailstones.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 11th 2019, 5:14 PM

    @William Tallon: nobody is saying these kind of weather events didn’t happen before, it’s the frequency that’s a concern

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Jun 11th 2019, 6:12 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: when did that happen in recent times apart from this occasion

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    Mute Sean
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    Jun 11th 2019, 7:26 PM

    @FlopFlipU: in 1984

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    Mute james boylan
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    Jun 11th 2019, 8:44 PM

    @FlopFlipU:
    These events happen every year around the world.

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    Mute ed w
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    Jun 11th 2019, 2:05 PM

    you know that’s how the day after tomorrow starts

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    Mute Mike Phelan
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    Jun 11th 2019, 1:23 PM

    Zerbrochene Windschutzscheibe, Überflutungen und Chaos!
    - exactly as you might exclaim at the broken windscreen yourself!

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    Mute Brian Flavin
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    Jun 11th 2019, 1:31 PM

    Same happen golf ball size hailstones in Australia last Christmas as mine friend pictures send me , blame global warming

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    Mute Sean
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    Jun 11th 2019, 7:26 PM

    @Brian Flavin: is this a telegram?

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    Mute The Mc
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    Jun 11th 2019, 1:38 PM

    The day after tomorrow. Global warming and no1 gives a dam..

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    Mute Marianne
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    Jun 11th 2019, 2:04 PM

    More like HELL.STONES..WAKE UP LEO CLIMATE CHANGE GETTING SERIOUS NOW

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    Mute brendan H
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    Jun 12th 2019, 3:28 AM

    @Marianne: Calm down its just weather. Its happened before lots of times in history.

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Jun 12th 2019, 2:36 AM

    Hello, Climate Change… Will August bring them lightening strikes and September hurricanes…

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