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G. V. Wright

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G. V. Wright
Leader of the Seanad
In office
23 January 1992 – 20 December 1994
TaoiseachAlbert Reynolds
Preceded bySeán Fallon
Succeeded byMaurice Manning
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1997 – May 2007
In office
February 1987 – June 1989
ConstituencyDublin North
Seanad Éireann
In office
1 November 1989 – 6 June 1997
In office
13 May 1982 – 23 February 1983
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born (1947-08-03) 3 August 1947 (age 77)
Dublin, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil

Thomas Wright, usually referred to by the nickname G.V., (born 3 August 1947) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin North constituency.[1]

Wright was born in Dublin in 1947. He was educated at Chanel College, Coolock in Dublin before becoming a food retailer. In his youth, Wright played Gaelic football for the Dublin county team and was an international basketball player and coach. He first held public office in 1982, when he was nominated by the Taoiseach to Seanad Éireann. He remained there until 1983; however, he also entered local politics in 1985 as a member of Dublin County Council. He remained there until 2004. The Mahon Tribunal named him in its final report as one of a number of politicians who had received corrupt payments from property developers.[2]

Wright was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election. He lost his seat at the 1989 general election but was again nominated to the Seanad where he served as Leader of Seanad Éireann (1991–1994) and Leader of Fianna Fáil in Seanad Éireann (1994–1997). During this time Wright failed again to obtain re-election to the Dáil. He finally succeeded at the 1997 general election and held his seat in another election in 2002.[3]

In September 2003, as Wright drove home from Leinster House, he hit a female pedestrian at North Strand in Dublin causing multiple fractures to her leg. Tests confirmed that Wright's blood alcohol content was above the legal limit. As a result, he was fined and banned from driving for two years. In a statement, he said: "I wish to unreservedly apologise to the person whom I injured and her family for this serious lapse of personal responsibility on my part and wish her a complete and expeditious recovery."[4]

He retired from politics at the 2007 general election.[5]

In March 2012, the final report of the Mahon Tribunal found that Wright received a £5,000 "corrupt" payment from Christopher Jones in November 1992 in relation to the Ballycullen/Beechill rezoning projects.[6] On 27 March 2012, Wright resigned from Fianna Fáil before he could be expelled.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "G. V. Wright". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  2. ^ O'Connell, Hugh (27 March 2012). "GV Wright and Don Lydon resign from Fianna Fáil". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  3. ^ "G. V. Wright". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Statement from the office of G V Wright". The Irish Times. 26 September 2003. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Fianna Fáil TD Wright to stand down". RTÉ News. 16 January 2006. Archived from the original on 3 May 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2006.
  6. ^ "In brief: The 16 key findings in the Mahon Tribunal Report". Irish Independent. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  7. ^ "Micheál Martin accepts Mahon findings against FF members". RTÉ News. 27 March 2012. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012.
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