Violet-Anne Wynne

Violet-Anne Wynne is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Clare constituency since the 2020 general election.[2]

Violet-Anne Wynne

TD
Wynne in 2020
Teachta Dála
Assumed office
February 2020
ConstituencyClare
Personal details
Born1987 or 1988 (age 32–33)[1]
Ballybrittas, County Laois, Ireland
Political partySinn Féin
Children5
Alma materTrinity College Dublin

Early and personal life

Wynne is from Kilrush, County Clare. She attended St Colman's National School in Tullamore, County Offaly and the Coláiste Muire in Blakestown.[3] She studied Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. She has five children.[4] She is a former member of the Reserve Defence Forces, having been involved for three years.[1]

Political career

Wynne ran for the position of councillor in Clare County Council during the May 2019 Irish local elections. She placed 8th out 9 candidates in her local election area of Kilrush, securing 4% of the first preference vote. In 2020 she was chosen by Sinn Féin local branches in Clare to stand for Sinn Féin in the 2020 Irish general election. She had been the local party members' third choice for a candidate, gaining the nomination after their first choice, Councillor Mike McKee, fell ill and died, and their second choice, Noeleen Moran, withdrew from the nomination process after she felt the local branch had not been prompt enough in convening.[5] Wynne had been considered to be a paper candidate in an election Sinn Féin initially did not expect to gain seats in,[6] however she came second in her constituency with 15% of the first preference vote following a surge in Sinn Féin popularity during the election campaign.[7]

Rent arrears

Following her election victory, an Irish charity came forward claiming that Wynne had refused to pay any rent for a period of four years and they instead had covered the cost, believing they would be eventually repaid. The charity itself, Rural Resettlement Ireland, closed down but its operators suggested she should give the owed amount, €12,000 to another charity. She subsequently agreed to do so.[8][9]

Vaccines

Also following her election, Philip Ryan suggesting that Wynne previously proposed some vaccine hesitancy views.[10] The Sinn Féin press office said Wynne's comments were "old remarks" which did not "reflect Sinn Féin policy".[10]

Social media conduct

In April 2020, Wynne was criticised for her conduct on social media by some of her constituents after she referred to fellow Clare TDs Pat Breen and Timmy Dooley as "Prat Breen" and "Timmy Do Nothing". She was also accused of belittling constituents who asked questions in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. A Spokesperson representing Sinn Féin in County Clare referred to her behaviour as "A prime example why the party’s social media guidelines should be followed at all times on social media platforms." Following the criticisms, Wynee issued a formal apology, stating "I understand that a number of remarks I made on Facebook recently have caused offence. I want to apologise for this and to those involved".[11][12]

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References
  1. "Violet-Anne Wynne". Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  2. "Violet-Anne Wynne". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  3. McMahon, Páraic (7 February 2020). "'People see us as the alternative' – Sinn Féin's Violet-Anne hopeful for GE2020". Clare Echo. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  4. "General Election 2020: Sinn Féin candidate Violet-Anne Wynne". Independent.ie. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  5. "SF choose Clare General Election candidate". Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  6. Holly, Stuart (16 February 2020). "Wynner alright: Violet-Anne's election shocks political followers". Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  7. O'Leary, Naomi (3 March 2020). "Why Sinn Féin is surging in the Irish election". Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  8. McQuinn, Cormac. "TD says she'll pay €12,000 in rent arrears to charity". Irish Independent (15 February 2020). Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  9. Danaher, Dan (15 February 2020). "Sinn Féin TD willing to pay €12,000 rent arrears to charity". Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  10. Ryan, Philip (13 February 2020). "Sinn Féin TD made attack on the HPV vaccine". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  11. McMahon, Páraic (11 April 2020). "'I understand my remarks caused offence' – Violet-Anne issues apology". Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  12. "Wynne Issues Apology After Controversial Facebook Remarks". clare.fm. 11 April 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
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