“It’s The Criminal Element That Means I’d Never Vote For Them”: Voters On Why They Can’t Vote Fine Gael

LONG THOUGHT to being a barrier to people removing lingering doubt and bringing themselves to vote for a political party, the niggling spectre of previous violent and/or criminal incarnations of political parties can leave voters reluctant to give a party a chance.

This is certainly proving the case with Fine Gael, as yet another former member is in the news again for criminal activity, leading some voters we spoke with to maintain their doubts about the legitimacy, morals and seriousness of the controversial party:

“I just heard today a lad who was one of their councillors and was on their national executive for over a decade pleaded guilted to stealing €172,000 from a charity! I’m pro-housing crisis and homelessness but it’s not a normal party, you can’t have a crowd like that governing” – said one man, alluding to the guilty plea of former FG man Seán McKiernan today.

“It’s been said for years there’s a whiff of the old guard criminal element still around from the bad old days when the Troubles were still on the go. Can’t bring myself to vote for them, and them that had that other councillor convicted last year of laundering €2.6mn, Frank Kilbride. They aren’t fit for the democratic, transparent world of politics.

“I’m sorry you can make all the pro-party arguments you want, they’re seen cavorting daily with a convicted criminal Michael Lowry. How am I meant to vote for them? And a former candidate down in Cork was done for banking and credit union fraud. Do they do no background checks at all?” offered another voter, anguished by the fact he broadly supports most of their policies.

“I’m not happy with the government, less Fianna Fáil more Fine Gael would be what I’d want, but I just can’t vote for a crowd that had their former leader investigated by the guards, and that senator fella arrested for being drunk O’Connell St this year and yer man from Louth bating the head of someone. Where are all the grown up parties I ask ye? And I forgot the other councillor charged with human trafficking!” added a disgruntled voter.

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