Government accused of gaslighting Irish people as Longford Westmeath resoundingly rejects both referendums

A Longford Independent councillor has accused the Government of 'gaslighting the Irish people on a range of issues' as the Longford Westmeath electorate and the country's voters resoundingly rejected both referendums put before the people on Friday. 

"The silent majority found their voice and I couldn’t be prouder to be Irish," declared Cllr Gerry Warnock as 74.6% and 78.6% of voters in the Longford Westmeath constituency voted NO to the Family Referendum and to the Care Referendum, respectively. 

Cllr Warnock continued, "This government has been gaslighting the Irish people on a range of issues from Covid to Immigration and all the way through this referendum campaign.

Cllr Warnock, who has announced that he won't be contesting the forthcoming local elections, said the vote demonstrated how real change can be achieved.

"This, my dear friends, is how you let the powers know how you feel; Not by burning property; Not by marching; Not by being abusive on social media; Not by screaming from the sidelines but by making the trip to the ballot box by using your precious mandate and tell them that you’ve had enough."

READ MORE ABOUT THE REFERENDUM HERE