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John Drennan Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Spin doctor John Drennan quits Renua after election failure

The former Sunday Independent journalist has confirmed he is no longer with the party.

RENUA’S DIRECTOR OF communications and political strategy John Drennan has quit the party in the wake of its disastrous general election result where it failed to win any seats.

The former Sunday Independent political editor joined Renua in May of last year, saying the new political party had “the potential to bring real change to Irish politics”.

Drennan worked closely with party leader Lucinda Creighton throughout his time with the party, but it failed to capture the support of the public it had hoped for.

Renua lost all three of its TDs in the general election with Creighton the most high-profile casualty in Dublin Bay South.

It failed to win Dáil seats anywhere else despite fielding 26 candidates. It’s understood that Drennan handed in his notice on election day.

4/1/2016 RENUA Ireland General Election Starts Drennan counsels Creighton at the launch of Renua's manifesto in January. Mark Stedman Mark Stedman

In a brief statement to TheJournal.ie, Drennan said that he wished Renua all the best in the future, adding: “The party does have a future, but it may have to redefine itself.”

Drennan is the author of a number of books, including The Great Betrayal: How the Government with the Largest Majority in the History of the Irish State Lost Its People, which was published while he was working for the party last year.

Despite not winning any seats, Renua did secure over 2% of support nationally in the election which means it qualifies for state funding of around €250,000 annually.

Creighton has said the party will continue despite not winning any Dáil seats.

Under the party’s constitution she will have to resign as leader as she is no longer an elected politician. One of the party’s five sitting councillors is likely to take up the role.

Read: Lucinda’s bad day: Renua has failed to win a single Dáil seat

Read: Lucinda the ‘watchdog’ thinks someone’s out to smear her character

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59 Comments
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    Mute Rachel O' Meara
    Favourite Rachel O' Meara
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 3:08 PM

    In addition to Broderick’s confession, he accepted his age and lack of previous convictions as mitigating factors and suspended eight years to “give him some prospect of emerging back into the light of day for some short period”…………….Personally I’d leave him rot in jail!

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    Mute Margaret Daly
    Favourite Margaret Daly
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 3:11 PM

    It’s quite astonishing to hear terms such as ‘mitigating factors’. That ‘man’ is no father. I hope this lady gets the help and support she needs.

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 3:13 PM

    Good for her speaking about it. Sexually abusing your own innocent daughter is a most horrific crime. I don’t think 7 years is enough to be honest.

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    Mute Niall O' Sullivan
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 3:15 PM

    I see no reason to take age into account when in fact he took no account of hers. She’s satisfied with the sentence however. That’s important.

    256
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    Mute Em Ni Mhurchu
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 3:29 PM

    Good God almighty she was a 4 year old child when he started sexually using her for his own gratification! How can there be any ‘mitigating’ factors for that???? I don’t care how sorry he is or he should be behind bars for the rest of his natural life.

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    Mute WJH
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 3:07 PM

    It would make you wonder how many people are hiding their abusive pasts through fear. Hopefully when people like this go public it gives strength to others to come forward and get these subhuman monsters dealt with and jailed.

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    Mute An Observaarrggghhh
    Favourite An Observaarrggghhh
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 3:28 PM

    It would also make you wonder how many children are going through the exact same thing right now. This guy did the worst thing you could ever do to his child. He was supposed to make her feel safe and loved. He filled her life with fear and he deserves to spend every day in a prison cell, contemplating his choices in life, what could have been if he had taken a different path and to die in that prison cell knowing that his daughter came out of his horrific abuse as much a survivor as she could be.

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    Mute Biddyearly
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 4:00 PM

    He is a monster of the worst kind, he should Die in prison and dump his body in a hole, he deserves no mercy, and NO leniency.

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    Mute Peter Moran
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 4:05 PM

    Should b no jail term just throw the off the cliffs of moher

    54
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 4:24 PM

    More than half the sentence suspended! Why would someone put themselves through this for that effort? It seems like the judges are nearly apologizing to the offender for jailing them meanwhile the victim can never get out of jail.

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    Mute Geoff Bateman
    Favourite Geoff Bateman
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 5:42 PM

    WTF is the matter with these “men”???

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    Mute Jane
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    Nov 2nd 2015, 9:28 PM

    It’s literally like rape is legal in this country. The sentencing for these kinds of crimes is a joke!

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    Mute Pat Morrissey
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    Nov 3rd 2015, 1:09 PM

    And the judge who remitted more than half his sentence because he confessed and cooperated is an insult to the concept of justice, he may know the price of everything but he knows the value of nothing

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