Search icon

Life

04th Feb 2016

Independent Irish TD still plans to run for election, despite cancer diagnosis

Colm Boohig

Peter Mathews has decided to run in the General Election after learning of his cancer diagnosis.

The Dublin-Rathdown Independent TD Peter Mathews will still contest the upcoming General Election, after discovering that he has oesophageal cancer last month.

The former Fine Gael TD for Dublin South has released a positive statement, saying that he expects to make a full recovery, while also outlaying his election plans.

“My treatment will commence in the next few days, and while this will mean that my daily activities will be curtailed in the coming months, I have an excellent team in place who will continue to manage the office in my absence. During treatment I will continue to remain fully abreast of, and involved in, all relevant matters and decisions.

“I wish to reassure all of my constituents that in light of this diagnosis my decision to run for re-election has not been made lightly, and was only confirmed at the end of last week after careful consideration of all the relevant facts and prognosis.”

Mathews made the news in 2013 when he voted against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill and lost the Fine Gael whip as a result.

Cover image via The Irish Times.

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!