Leading Irish presidential candidate sought clemency for abuser

August 01, 2011

The leading candidate for Ireland’s presidency has seen his hopes of election severely compromised by the revelation that he once sought clemency for a man convicted of raping a teenage boy.

David Norris, the senator who seemed likely to become the first openly homosexual president of Ireland, wrote to the Israeli government asking for a light sentence for his former lover, Ezra Yizhak, who had been found guilty of a sexual assault on a Palestinian boy.

Many Irish politicians who had backed the Norris candidacy said that they were reconsidering their support. Especially in light of the current outrage over the failure of Catholic bishops to discipline abusive priests, it will be difficult for public figures to justify support for a lawmaker who tried to shield his own intimate friend from abuse charges.

Loyal supporters of the Norris candidacy said that the revelation of his clemency plea for Yizhak, made 14 years ago, was an Israeli bid to undermine his candidacy. Norris has been highly critical of Israeli treatment of Palestinians.

 

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Further information:

• Norris says presidential prospects are 'slim (RTE)
• David Norris's Irish presidency chances marred by mercy letter (Guardian)
• Norris 'remains committed' to presidential campaign (Irish Times)
• Doubt over Norris bid as backers consider support (Irish Times)
• Israelis deny plot as Norris supporters continue to defect (Independent)
• Blogger who lifted the lid on rape conviction 'deluged with hate mail' (Independent)