Political Career
In December 1918 he was elected as a Sinn Féin MP for the Cork North East constituency at the 1918 general election. Sinn Féin MPs refused to attend Westminster, and instead assembled at the Mansion House in Dublin as a revolutionary parliament called Dáil Éireann, though Hunter could not attend as he was still in prison.
In May 1921, Hunter was elected unopposed as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East and North East constituency at the 1921 elections.
During Dáil debates on the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Hunter spoke (albeit briefly) against the treaty.
| “ | I rise to say a few words; perhaps if I did not do so some people might say that I had not the courage to voice my opinions in this assembly. I vote against this Treaty because I am a Republican; I was elected on the Republican ticket; I came here and took the oath to the Republican Government and I am not going now to destroy that Government. If the people do not agree with me they can get rid of me at any time and in any way that they like. Finally, as a Republican, I could never recognise the Government of George V of England in either internal or external association. | ” |
At the 1922 general election, Hunter stood unsuccessfully for as an anti-Treaty Sinn Féin candidate.
Read more about this topic: Thomas Hunter (Irish Politician)
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