PR: “The time for sermons is over, hand back the money Colm” – Savethe8th

Amnesty must stop prevaricating and hand back the money

SIPO’s findings are clear, and nothing in Irish law prevents advocacy groups from operating. If the public cannot trust O’Gorman to obey the law, they cannot trust him to tell the truth.

Amnesty Ireland must stop prevaricating and hand back the illegal donation it received from the Open Society Foundation if the public are to retain confidence in the conduct of the referendum campaign, Savethe8th has said.

The campaign was responding to yet another long sermon from Amnesty’s director, Colm O’Gorman, in TheJournal.ie.

Savethe8th Communications Director John McGuirk said:

“Mr. O’Gorman has repeatedly refused to obey the law, and is pretending that this is some grave matter of human rights. It is not. Nothing in Irish electoral law prevents advocacy groups from operating. This is an attempt to steal a referendum with illegal foreign cash. Amnesty are in breach of a clear instruction from the Standards in Public Office Commission. This taints every action his organisation takes in this campaign.

The time for dreary self-justifying sermons is over, Mr. O’Gorman. The public needs to know that both sides are playing by the same rules. If we cannot trust Mr. O’Gorman to obey the law, how can we trust him to tell the truth?”

End