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IRISH EMIGRANTS WOULD like to see Michael D Higgins set up residence in Áras an Uachtaráin.
In their own symbolic election, the Irish abroad “elected” the Labour candidate as the next president of Ireland.
In the presidential poll, Higgins came out on top with 41 per cent of the vote, well ahead of his nearest rival David Norris on 24 per cent.
Martin McGuinness came in third with 18 per cent of the vote. Former frontrunner Seán Gallagher only managed fourth place with 10 per cent of first preferences.
Mary Davis and Gay Mitchell received 3 per cent each, while just 1 per cent of the vote went to Independent candidate Dana Rosemary Scallon.
The vote took place through the website BallotBox.ie over six days and 2,581 people took part.
Organisers of the token election say it allows for Irish people living outside of Ireland to have their say because they are denied a vote in the “real” election.
The aim of the site is to highlight that Irish emigrants are immediately disenfranchised upon leaving the country. This is in stark contrast to many other democracies,” they said. “BallotBox.ie advocates a change in the law so that recent emigrants who have been resident in Ireland retain their vote.
Votes were recorded in 97 countries with the UK, US, Australia, Canada and Germany providing the majority. However, votes were also cast in Estonia, Malawi, Nicaragua and El Salvador.
“With so much talk of the need to harness the global Irish community to help Ireland get back on it’s feet, it seems the powers that be are failing to grasp the importance of keeping recent emigrants involved in the national conversation,” added the founder of BallotBox.ie, Brian Reynolds.
IP technology was used to block voters in Ireland and passport information was used to discourage non-Irish people from voting.
BallotBox.ie also held a fantasy General Election in February 2011. Over 5,000 people had their say in that poll.
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This winner of this week’s Ireland’s dumbest criminal.
They’re all winners.
Should have been a maniac instead of a brainiac
may be dumb but dangerous as any simple google search will show
Recaptured?! He handed himself in.
And didn’t even throw away the knife first. What a genius.
You’d have to wonder where he tried to hide it. Seems like he’s enjoying himself though.
Why do skangers always look the same??? sound the same who are they trying to emulate? They should be aiming themselves to be like enda kenny
Socio – economics peer pressure basically makes them want to fit in. The real question is why anybody who is not a criminal wants to dress like one.
Obviously not too worried about the consequences of his actions and why should he because there are no consequences.
So he handed himself in whilst carrying a weapon. Ireland’s dumbest criminal? Maybe, but I doubt it.
Clearly he just knows that he will. It get any extra prison time for absconding or for carrying a weapon whilst a prisoner.
It will just give him temporary kudos amongst the skang fraternity
Who is in today? haha!
46 convictions at 22 years of age…ffs…what a waste of space!
can’t doubt his dedication…. if this skobe has been done 46 times. imagine what he’s got away with…… I’d have him and his ilk doing 20 years hard labour or chain ganged
Plonker!
Let’s hope the authorities manage to hold on to him this time
Left through the back door of the courthouse! I suppose we should be grateful he isn’t Hannibal Lector
what a dope he walked into a cop shot known he was wanted carrying a weapon, surely he must have known he would be searched
cop shop
No point in been stupid if you don’t show it !
*being
Yawn !
He’s not called short planks for nothing.
What a dud.
He looks like a right F×ckin Donkey!
A knife,a number of phones, and a USB stick. Jaysus
have your say