By Louise Doyle
100% Redress Party candidate Charles Ward has said he is “feeling positive” ahead of the counting of votes in Lifford-Stranorlar Local Electoral Area today.
The Drumkeen father-of-four, whose own home is affected by defective concrete blocks, picked up 860 votes during yesterday’s tallies in Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny, and can’t be ruled out of the running just yet.
Speaking to the Donegal News, he said: “I started canassing on April 2. I’ve been around 5,000 doors and shook hands. I’m still maintaining my job and family life. I have four kids and my wife has been carrying the can while I’ve been away.
“The reason I am running for this party is because my house is affected by defective concrete. I have a four-bedroom house, paying 1400 euros a month mortgage for it. It is crumbling, it is not fit for habitation. I have nowhere else to go.”
Despite what happens today in terms of his own vote, Mr Ward said the 100% Redress Party has made waves across the county, and seats will be taken in council.
He said the defective concrete emergency in the Finn Valley area will increase in the next five years.
“The 100% Redress Party will take seats. We need to start getting the People’s Document in place. In the next five years in this Finn Valley area alone, defective concrete is going to increase.
“Inishowen is the epicentre of where the problem is, but the ripples are coming and they are getting stronger and stronger.
“We’re living in a house where we have electricity sometimes, and water coming through the walls. There is no help and we’re paying a full mortgage. They (the party) have a chance to get in there now and get the modular homes in place, get ready for the plan, the big push.
“For every house, no one should go for anything other than full demolition. If you go for part remediation, you’re not solving the problem.
“The government are not awake to this.”
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