Francis throws hat in local election ring

April 1985

Mr Francis Doyle of Ballinahinch, Ashford, who is confined to a wheelchair, has announced that he is to contest the local elections as an independent candidate. Son of Frank and Lena Doyle, Rathnew, Francis is aged 29 and married to Kathleen.

He has been paralysed from the chest down since a crash in 1983. Francis has wide experience in the building and housing trade. In addition, he has been dealing with community welfare claims since his accident and has learned quite a good deal about the operation of the welfare system.

‘I would welcome the opportunity to work for the people,’ he said. ‘I may be paralysed from the chest down but not from the chin up, the head is working perfectly.’