‘Surprised’ Libertas calls vote courageous

ANTI-LISBON group Libertas praised the “wisdom and courage” of Irish people yesterday for voting no, but insisted Taoiseach Brian Cowen now had a mandate to get a better deal for Ireland in Europe.

The no campaign group’s leader Declan Ganley said the no vote had sent out a clear message to Brussels. It was now up to the Government to put Ireland’s interests forward inside the EU, he argued.

Mr Ganley said Libertas had been taken aback at the rejection of the treaty.