Peter Matthews to contest General Election despite cancer diagnosis
By Daniel McConnell, Irish Examiner Political Editor
Dublin South Independent TD Peter Mathews has disclosed he has been diagnosed with cancer, but he will contest the General Election.
Mr Mathews, a banker turned politician, is running for re-election in Dublin-Rathdown, issued a statement today in which he revealed that he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer last month.
Mr Mathews, who left Fine Gael in 2013, said that the cancer is curable and he expects to be back in full health in the next number of months. He said his campaign will continue as he undergoes treatment.
Born in 1951, the chartered accountant was elected as a Fine Gael TD for Dublin South in 2011, but lost the party whip when he voted against the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill.
He initially joined the Reform Alliance with Lucinda Creighton, Terrence Flanagan and Denis Naughten, but did not go on to join Renua Ireland.
He has been a thorn in the side of Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett and has been ejected from the Dáil on numerous occasions for his outbursts.
