The campaign of Senator David Norris who recently declared his intention to stand for the Irish Presidency ran into major controversy yesterday when an article that appeared in Magill Magazine in January 2002 resurfaced, calling into question his suitability for such a high office.An extract from the article in which Norris was interviewed by Helen Burke dealt in part with sexual matters is reprinted below
Senator David Norris, Magill Article 2002
Magill Magazine, January 2002, pp34-36
David Norris: The Free Radical.
Interview by Helen Lucy Burke.
The article can also be found on this link...I found some of his views on sexual matters deeply disturbing - notably on sex with minors...
Norris:"In terms of classic paedophilia, as practised by the Greeks for example, where it is an older man introducing a younger man or boy to adult life, I think there can be something to be said for it. And in terms of North African experience this is endemic.Now again, this is not something that appeals to me, although when I was younger it would most certainly have appealed to me in the sense that I would have greatly relished the prospect of an older, attractive, mature man taking me under his wing, lovingly introducing me to sexual realities, and treating me with affection and teaching me about life - yes, I think that would be lovely; I would have enjoyed that."...
"But I think there is complete and utter hysteria about this subject, and there is also confusion between ... paedophilia and pederasty..."[David Norris clarified this later, explaining that genital sexual penetration of juveniles of either sex would be inappropiate and harmful]...
"In my opinion, the teacher, or Christian Brother, who puts his hand into a boy's pocket during a history lesson, that is one end of the spectrum. but then there is another: there is the person who attacks children of either sex, rapes them, brutalises them, and then murders them. But the way things are presented here it's almost as if they were all exactly the same and I don't think they are. and I have to tell you this -- I think that the children in some instances are more damaged by the condemnation than by the actual experience."HelenThe right of unfettered sexual activity guided by the principle of mutual consent would be Norris's perception of the way things should be, with a bar only on intimidation, bullying or bribery. He did not appear to endorse any minimum age or endure any protest that a child was not capable of informed consent.
Norris"The law in this sphere should take in to account consent rather than age".
HelenWhen I asked about incest, he hesitated, and concluded that in the case of girls a case could be made for a ban, as possible resulting pregnancy might be genetically undesirable...
