A Co Donegal man has taken out an advert in his local newspaper telling politicians not to call to his home during the general election.
Colm Friel said he is so angry at the Government that he has dug deep into his own pocket to warn them to stay away from his home at Gortnalaragh, Termon.
Colm paid the cash for the advert which will appear in the Tirconaill Tribune newspaper up until the general election on February 26th.
The half-page advert shows a picture of Colm with the headline ‘No Canvassers – No Candidates’
The article then reads “Colm Friel, Gortnalaragh, Termon, wishes to advise Election Candidates and their Agents not to visit his home for the duration of the General Election between now and polling day, Friday February, 26th, 2016.”
But despite taking out the advert, Colm has revealed he is still being plagued by canvassers.
“We’re still getting them at the door so I’m tempted to put up a sign which will really tell them how I feel and exactly where to go,” warned Colm.
Colm said he has lost complete faith in the Government after he returned from America to look after his 84 year old brother James who suffers from dementia.
Colm revealed that because he moved in to the family home to look after James, his brother lost both his living alone and fuel allowance.
Although James gets three half hour visits from home helps each week, James is almost €30 a week poorer off since Colm became his unofficial carer.
As well as losing his €7.70 a week living alone allowance, James has lost his €20 a week winter fuel allowance.
Colm added “If I had not moved in with James, he would have had to move into a nursing home and that would have cost the Government an awful lot more money. They are just not in touch with the real lives of people.”
Article Donegal Daily Feb 12, 2016
Buncrana Together
We have deliberately omitted the last couple of lines in the original article. We do not see their relevance or appropriateness. It is ironic and insensitive to have a politician comment on Mr Friel's plight and his frustration at the Irish political system and politicians in general.