Defective blocks campaigner Paddy Diver has spoken out with scepticism over the 100% Redress Party’s general election bid.
The party today announced that Charles Ward will go forward to seek election to the Dáil.
But independent campaigner Diver says the decision doesn’t have the backing of all campaigners.
Diver said he has major concerns that the election bid will split votes away from Sinn Féin, who he is openly backing to deliver an end-to-end scheme.
“I’m in the middle of the redress scheme and I personally know how much someone shouting from the sidelines will not benefit somebody that can actually deliver something,” Diver said.
“As long-term seasoned campaigners, we want to hear it out from 100% Redress, what was the benefit of this because at the minute, we are sceptical of the end to end goal to help families get out of this nightmare and get on with their lives.
“Would it not be more beneficial to be vigorously campaigning against Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, who have let this county down for years, and reach out to the other affected counties, and try and help Sinn Féin get into government and deliver end-to-end?”
He added: “We see this has the potential to split the votes and undo a lot of work by campaigners.”
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will be laughing at this, they know the people affected the most by this will be Thomas Pringle and Padraig MacLochainn.”
Diver said his statement is ‘nothing personal’ against Charles Ward.
Ward ran in the Lifford-Stranorlar MD in June, gaining 985 overall votes.
“I don’t want to be going against Charles Ward on his first day of running for a TD position,” Diver said.
“But I am very sceptic and worried about the benefits of this, what harm it’s going to do to the goal of end-to-end.”
Diver said the self-build route requires too much money upfront, and contractors, with rising prices, are not a viable option either.
“End-to-end is the goal,” he said. “I am in the middle of this and can see that.
“If we have one chance to make a difference, that is to put the shoulder to the wheel and help Sinn Féin deliver end-to-end, I don’t know why anyone would stand in the way of that.”
