Ted Neville (born 1958)[1] is an Irish anti-immigration activist from Cork.
Career
editIn the 2000s, Neville was an activist and spokesman for the Immigration Control Platform alongside Áine Ní Chonaill.[2] He was an independent anti-immigration candidate in three general elections in Cork South Central in 2002, 2007, and 2011. He also contested the 2004 local elections in Cork City.[3]
He has appeared on Irish media including RTÉ television and radio as an anti-immigration voice.[4][5] He was involved in efforts to establish a party known as the Irish Solidarity Party in 2011[6] and was later involved with the now defunct political party Identity Ireland in 2015. He also appeared as a guest witness before Oireachtas committees on behalf of the Immigration Control Platform in 2015.[7][8] As of 2024, he is a member of the National Party.[9]
Views
editIn 2002, Neville described Ireland as "the maternity ward of Africa"[1] and argued that "the influx of foreign cultures will destroy Irish society."[10] He called for a referendum to remove birthright citizenship.[11] This was subsequently done in the 2004 citizenship referendum which passed by a wide margin.
Neville attributed the 2008 financial crash to mass-immigration[12] and has described Ireland as a "welfare wonderland" and a "Mecca for overseas welfare tourists".[12]
He criticised a 2007 supreme court decision which halted a deportation order against an African couple on the grounds that they had AIDS by arguing, "We are sending out the wrong message. Most countries screen for AIDS before they come; we are saying if you come to Ireland you can stay if [you've] got AIDS."[13]
Personal life
editNeville is a science graduate from Cork RTC (now Munster Technological University).[11] He is a former competitive weightlifter and served as public relations officer for the Irish Amateur Weightlifting Association.[14] He is involved with the Irish Real Tennis Association and served as its secretary.[15][16]
References
edit- ^ a b Breslin, John (23 February 2002). "Immigrant control group field candidates". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "Anti-immigration group to contest Cork seat". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "ElectionsIreland.org: Ted Neville". electionsireland.org. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Nazi group accuses TV sisters of race bias". Irish Independent. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ O'Keeffe, Donal (4 August 2015). "Time for Ireland's new anti-immigration party to answer difficult questions about its members". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Meet the Candidates: Cork South Central". Southern Star. 19 February 2011.
- ^ "Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality debate". Oireachtas.ie.
- ^ Duffy, Rónán (1 April 2015). "Oireachtas told: 'Illegal immigrants are giving two fingers to the State'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "X: Candidate Announcement". X.
- ^ Higgins, Jacqui (9 May 2002). "Neville denies accusations that his party incites racial hatred". The Corkman.
- ^ a b "Immigration Control Platform – Ted Neville -2002 Cork South Central".
- ^ a b ""Mass Immigration Led To Ireland's Crash…" -Ted Neville- Irish Solidarity Party-Cork South Central". Irish Election Literature.
- ^ Ryan, Conor (19 May 2007). "Immigration issue finally gets airing". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Indoor stars get their reward". Evening Echo. 15 April 2006.
- ^ Maddock, John (13 December 2000). "Real tennis court debate re-opens". Irish Independent.
- ^ "Dáil Éireann debate, Wednesday, 8 Mar 2000".