Tánaiste and Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney has welcomed the decision of Colm O'Gorman, founder director of the charity One in Four, to be a prospective candidate for the party at the next General Election.
Mr O'Gorman will stand for the party in his native Wexford. He first came to prominence after speaking out about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Father Sean Fortune.
Since then, through his organisation, he has campaigned for the rights of others who endured abuse as children.
Ms Harney said: 'On behalf of the whole party, I warmly welcome him on board. He will have our total support in the new challenge he has set of serving the people of Wexford as a TD with the Progressive Democrats.'
'He has shown outstanding, courageous leadership in Wexford and in our country for justice, to improve permanently the protection of children and to serve survivors of abuse. He is a man of great heart, intelligence and character.'
'I am confident the people of Wexford will find in Colm O’Gorman a fresh, exciting candidate and an outstanding public representative for them in Dáil Éireann.'
Mr O'Gorman said: 'The time I have spent working on influencing politics and public policy, on developing services that work to support very real and complex needs for people who have been victims of crime has deepened my own conviction in that same way.'
'I am convinced that with energy and with commitment, with objectivity and courage we can achieve anything. I want to bring that conviction to politics, I want to continue to work to make my contribution to my own community.'
Wexford is a five-seat constituency, which has never returned a PD deputy, and which the party has not contested since 1989.
