Justin Barrett
Encyclopedia
Justin Barrett is an Irish
conservative
nationalist
, pro-life
and anti-immigration
activist.
Barrett was involved in the Constitutional Rights Campaign, which unsuccessfully campaigned to prevent the ratification of the Single European Act
in 1986. In 1987 he became involved in Family Solidarity
, a movement established to oppose liberalisation on social issues such as abortion, contraception, gay rights and divorce. Lack of success in this area led him to the conviction that political involvement was necessary for results - he was subsequently involved in Young Fine Gael
until 1991. From 1992 he became actively involved in the Irish pro-life movement, becoming the lead spokesperson of Youth Defence, and as a student in Athlone RTC he unsuccessfully contested the election for the Presidency of Union of Students in Ireland
. During the 1995 divorce referendum
, he was spokesman for the Youth Against Divorce campaign. He was also involved in the campaign against the 2002 abortion referendum.
In 2001, Barrett campaigned against the Nice Treaty referendum - a vote which was subsequently held again and was approved. During the second Nice campaign, Barrett became the centre of a controversy over links to alleged "neo-Nazi" movements in Germany. Barrett admitted he had spoken at a NPD rally, but denied he had any sympathy with their policies and said that he had addressed the rally only in his capacity as a pro-life campaigner. Supporters of Barrett accused the Irish media (in particular the Irish Times) of conducting a politically-motivated character assassination campaign against him. Whearas critics point out that his anti immigration position is consistent with the far-right groups he denies being involved with.
In the European Parliament election, 2004
, Barrett ran for a seat in the 'East' constituency, winning 10,997 first-preference
votes, or 2.4% of the vote. Later that year, while attending a debate in University College Dublin
, Barrett claimed he was the victim of an assault by members of the Irish Anti-Fascist Action
group.
Justin Barrett is married with three children. In recent years he published a book putting forth his political principles, entitled The National Way Forward! In the book he described immigration as "genocidal" and said that he was influenced by Hilaire Belloc
, G. K. Chesterton
and Arthur Penty
. He also promoted the work of Father Denis Fahey
.
Áine Ní Chonaill
said that his agenda was broader than hers and that there had been no contact between them.
In March 2004, he accompanied Gerry McGeough
on a speaking tour.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
, pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
and anti-immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
activist.
Barrett was involved in the Constitutional Rights Campaign, which unsuccessfully campaigned to prevent the ratification of the Single European Act
Single European Act
The Single European Act was the first major revision of the 1957 Treaty of Rome. The Act set the European Community an objective of establishing a Single Market by 31 December 1992, and codified European Political Cooperation, the forerunner of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy...
in 1986. In 1987 he became involved in Family Solidarity
Family Solidarity
Family Solidarity is an Irish conservative advocacy group run by lay Catholics. Founded in 1984 by supporters of the campaign that led to the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland, it campaigned against the introduction of divorce. Nora Bennis was a member.Sports commentator Michael...
, a movement established to oppose liberalisation on social issues such as abortion, contraception, gay rights and divorce. Lack of success in this area led him to the conviction that political involvement was necessary for results - he was subsequently involved in Young Fine Gael
Young Fine Gael
Young Fine Gael is the autonomous youth wing of the major Irish political party Fine Gael. It offers its members scope to assist in formulation of political policy, and the day to day running of the senior party...
until 1991. From 1992 he became actively involved in the Irish pro-life movement, becoming the lead spokesperson of Youth Defence, and as a student in Athlone RTC he unsuccessfully contested the election for the Presidency of Union of Students in Ireland
Union of Students in Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland is the national representative body for third-level students' unions in Ireland. The Union of Students in Ireland is the sole national representative body for students in Ireland but does not represent students from two of the seven Irish Universities, namely...
. During the 1995 divorce referendum
Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
The Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland repealed the constitutional prohibition of divorce. It was effected by the Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1995, which was approved by referendum on 24 November 1995 and signed into law on 17 June 1996.-Changes to the...
, he was spokesman for the Youth Against Divorce campaign. He was also involved in the campaign against the 2002 abortion referendum.
In 2001, Barrett campaigned against the Nice Treaty referendum - a vote which was subsequently held again and was approved. During the second Nice campaign, Barrett became the centre of a controversy over links to alleged "neo-Nazi" movements in Germany. Barrett admitted he had spoken at a NPD rally, but denied he had any sympathy with their policies and said that he had addressed the rally only in his capacity as a pro-life campaigner. Supporters of Barrett accused the Irish media (in particular the Irish Times) of conducting a politically-motivated character assassination campaign against him. Whearas critics point out that his anti immigration position is consistent with the far-right groups he denies being involved with.
In the European Parliament election, 2004
European Parliament election, 2004 (Ireland)
The 2004 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 2004 European Parliament election. The voting was held on Friday, 11 June 2004. The election coincided with the 2004 local elections...
, Barrett ran for a seat in the 'East' constituency, winning 10,997 first-preference
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
votes, or 2.4% of the vote. Later that year, while attending a debate in University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
, Barrett claimed he was the victim of an assault by members of the Irish Anti-Fascist Action
Anti-Fascist Action
Anti-Fascist Action was a militant anti-fascist organization founded by members of Red Action and other left-wing groups in the United Kingdom in 1985....
group.
Justin Barrett is married with three children. In recent years he published a book putting forth his political principles, entitled The National Way Forward! In the book he described immigration as "genocidal" and said that he was influenced by Hilaire Belloc
Hilaire Belloc
Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc was an Anglo-French writer and historian who became a naturalised British subject in 1902. He was one of the most prolific writers in England during the early twentieth century. He was known as a writer, orator, poet, satirist, man of letters and political activist...
, G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
Gilbert Keith Chesterton, KC*SG was an English writer. His prolific and diverse output included philosophy, ontology, poetry, plays, journalism, public lectures and debates, literary and art criticism, biography, Christian apologetics, and fiction, including fantasy and detective fiction....
and Arthur Penty
Arthur Penty
Arthur Joseph Penty was a British architect, and writer on Guild socialism and distributism. He was first a Fabian socialist, and follower of Victorian thinkers William Morris and John Ruskin...
. He also promoted the work of Father Denis Fahey
Denis Fahey
Father Denis Fahey, C.S.Sp. was an Irish Catholic priest. Fahey promoted the Catholic social doctrine of Christ the King, and was involved in Irish politics through his organisation Maria Duce. Fahey firmly believed that "the world must conform to Our Divine Lord, not He to it", defending the...
.
Áine Ní Chonaill
Áine Ní Chonaill
Áine Ní Chonaill is a spokesperson for Irish anti-mass-immigration group Immigration Control Platform .-Biography:Ní Chonaill is a school teacher in County Cork but for the last decade or more she has been PRO for ICP. Her political background is largely unknown but she was involved in the early...
said that his agenda was broader than hers and that there had been no contact between them.
In March 2004, he accompanied Gerry McGeough
Gerry McGeough
Gerry McGeough is a prominent Irish republican who was a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army , a former Sinn Féin activist and editor of the defunct The Hibernian magazine. McGeough broke with Sinn Féin in 2007 and he is now an independent republican activist...
on a speaking tour.