Norris warned to abandon hopes of revived Áras bid

FORMER supporters of David Norris last night warned him to abandon any hopes of re-entering the presidential race after the senator broke his five-week silence on the matter.

After an opinion poll showed one-in-three voters still want him to bid for the Áras despite his dramatic exit from the contest, Mr Norris said he was “heartened” by their support.

However, one former backer of his nomination, independent Dublin TD Finian McGrath, counselled against a return.

Despite a commanding lead in opinion polls, Mr Norris withdrew last month after it emerged he wrote to Israeli judges pleading for clemency for a former partner who was found guilty of the statutory rape of a 15-year-old.

Mr McGrath, who, along with a number of Dáil independents, had hoped to secure the necessary 20 Oireachtas members’ nominations for Mr Norris, said re-launching his bid would be unwise.

“I accept there is a genuine desire among a number of people for David Norris to run, but I wouldn’t back him again,” said Mr McGrath.

“I think it would be the wrong decision, because I think, probably, something else would come out.”

Mr Norris sparked speculation that he may reconsider after he responded to a MillwardBrown/Sunday Independent poll showing strong backing for him. He tweeted: “David Norris is greatly heartened by and appreciates the continued support being shown to him by the Irish public.”