Government running scared of by-election voters, says Gerry Adams after High Court win

THE Fianna Fáil/Green Party Government is running scared of voters, Gerry Adams said after Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty won the first round in a High Court battle on Monday to force the Government to hold the Donegal South-West by-election.

The High Court granted Pearse Doherty leave for a judicial review into why the Donegal South-West by-election has not yet been held.

“Today’s court decision is an important development in the ongoing efforts to force the Government to live up to its democratic responsibilities by holding this long-overdue by-election,” Gerry Adams said.

“Like constituencies across this country, Donegal South-West is facing serious economic difficulties including high levels of unemployment in particular.

“Continued political under-representation can only compound the problems of disadvantage being experienced in Donegal South-West.

“Sinn Féin made several attempts in the Dáil to have the writ for the by-election moved but this was rejected by the Government who have been running scared of facing the electorate. There was clearly no other option but to bring this matter to the courts.

“This case is about standing up for the rights of the electorate and it is about equal representation for the people of Donegal South-West.”