Direct Democracy Ireland
|
Direct Democracy Ireland
Daonlathas Díreach Éireann |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leader | Pat Greene |
| Founder | Raymond Whitehead |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | The Old Post Office, Reaghstown, Ardee, County Louth |
| Ideology |
Direct democracy Right-wing populism Withdrawal from the Eurozone |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Colours | Blue, Green |
| Website | |
| directdemocracyireland.ie | |
 |
|
| Merged into | DDI |
|---|---|
| Formation | 9 August 2014 |
| Founder | Elizabeth Hourihane |
| Dissolved | December 2015 |
| Type | Political group |
| Purpose | Political reform, anti-water charges |
|
Region served
|
Ireland |
Direct Democracy Ireland (Irish: Daonlathas Díreach Éireann) is a minor political party in Ireland. It currently has no representation at local or national level.
Established in 2010, Direct Democracy Ireland (DDI) was registered as a political party in October 2012. The organisation was founded by photographer Raymond Whitehead.
The party describes itself as neither "left or right, but about balance", seeking to transform the political system from representative democracy to direct democracy. The party has three principal aims:
In July 2013, Ben Gilroy and other members of the party took part in a protest at an auctioneers in Dublin in opposition to the sale of distressed property. Protesters were accused of chanting racist abuse at English staff. The auction had to be cancelled 'in the interest of public safety'. When questioned about the slurs, party spokesperson Des McCreesh told the Irish Independent "I never heard anything like that at all". The following day Gilroy was again questioned over the alleged incident on The Michael Reade Show on LMFM. Gilroy told listeners "I never said any of that [racist abuse]" adding that it would be "wrong to make reference to where [a person] is from at all" and "Direct Democracy and other people did not do that". Presenter Michael Reade then played an audio clip from inside an auction in which Gilroy can be heard telling the auctioneers to "go back to England", Gilroy can then be heard saying: "I'm putting in an objection sir, with your very fine British accent, could you take it forthwith. Leave the country, you and your like that are putting the properties here up for sale." Gilroy admitted the voice in the clip was his but denied his comments amounted to racism, while his party accused radio host Michael Reade of attempting to paint Gilroy as a racist to discredit him. A complaint was lodged by DDI with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland claiming that Gilroy had been "unfairly treated" and that the LMFM show "misrepresented and created the impression that Mr. Gilroy had expressed anti-English sentiments at the auction". The complaint was rejected by the Authority.
On 1 November 2013, Gilroy was arrested by Gardaí in Navan and brought before Dublin High Court to face charges over alleged contempt of orders restraining trespass on a County Kildare stud farm to which receivers have been appointed. Gilroy is accused of being part of a "mob" from the Rodolphus Allen Family Private Trust which forced receivers off the €8million stud farm.
...
Wikipedia