Norris pulls out of hosting Browne show

DAVID NORRIS was due to stand in as a guest presenter on the Vincent Browne programme on TV3 tonight, but has pulled out because of the controversy engulfing his presidential campaign.

A spokesperson for the station said one of the senator’s supporters made contact shortly before 4pm yesterday and they “came to an agreement due to the circumstances”.

He had been due to choose his own panellists and decide his own subject matter for debate. But the spokesperson said that proceeding with the programme was “not appropriate at this time”.

The Senator was expected to announce his intention to proceed with his bid to seek a nomination to contest the presidency at a press conference today.

But it now looks unlikely that he will do so given that some of the key supporters last night announced they were withdrawing support.

The likelihood of him securing the signatures of 20 Oireachtas members looked unlikely following controversy surrounding letters he wrote to an Israeli court back in 1997 pleading for leniency in the sentencing of his former partner.

Israeli peace activist and campaigner for Palestinian rights Ezra Yizhak Nawi was convicted of having sex with a 15-year-old boy.

Independent TD Mick Wallace publicly declared that he would continue to back Mr Norris, saying he’s “a good man at heart” and would “make a good president”.

The Wexford TD said that sending the letter was “wrong” but that “nobody is perfect”.

He told RTÉ radio: “It’s something one shouldn’t do. I was sorry to hear it, but I would forgive him. I made a lot of mistakes myself, I’ve done things I shouldn’t do and said things I shouldn’t say, and that’s human.”

But nine of the 14 who previously pledged their support were either re-considering or not answering their phones.

John Halligan, an Independent TD for Waterford, said it was with “great regret” that he was withdrawing his support.

“I believe Senator Norris is a decent man and I acknowledge the great work he has done for the less well off in our society, particularly on civil rights issues. However I feel it was a great error of judgment on his part to write the letter to the Israeli authorities appealing for leniency for Ezra Yizhak Nawi,” he said in a statement last night.

Independent TD, Finian McGrath said he was withdrawing support because children and the office of president had to come first.

Senator, John Crown, said on twitter: “For the record, I still believe that the people should decide. It looks like that opportunity will not be granted.”