Norris writes to supporters as fresh controversy erupts

SENATOR David Norris has written a letter to supporters in a bid to end the controversy over remarks made in old interviews which is threatening to derail his presidential bid.

Mr Norris pleaded with people to judge him on his deeds and record in the Seanad rather than a handful of “sensational newspaper headlines”.

It came after the Daily Mail reprinted extracts from an interview which he gave to the paper last year in which he defended the classical Greek idea of pederasty, called for the legislation of drugs and prostitution, and said there should be a principle, rather than an age, of consent.