A potential candidate in the October 26 Irish Presidential election, Kevin Sharkey thinks that those who use violence against the elderly are worthy of the death penalty.

The Irish Presidential hopeful and artist Kevin Sharkey has spoken about how he believes those who use violence against the elderly in their own homes are worthy of the death penalty.

Speaking about crime in rural Ireland, which has seen isolated elderly people harmed and harassed in their own homes, Sharkey said that capital punishment would be appropriate.

"I personally believe that the death penalty would be appropriate for anybody who harms an old person in their home,” he said.  

“I know we are not going to bring back the death penalty.

“I don’t think there’s too stiff a punishment for those kinds of people who commit those kinds of crimes.”

Read more: Irish presidential hopeful says Ireland should adopt Trump’s ‘America First’ policy

Sharkey was among a number of potential candidate addressing a special meeting of Roscommon County Council in the hope of winning a nomination to run in the Presidential election. In order to run in the election set for October 26, hopefuls need the backing of our local councils, or 20 TDs or Senators.

The ban on the death penalty is enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and in the European Convention on Human Rights of the Council of Europe. To reintroduce it, we literally would have to leave the EU. I'm so sick of the stupidity in #Aras18. https://t.co/JpEWGw7xKw

— Philip Nolan (@philipnolan1) September 6, 2018

Also speaking on Wednesday was Irish Senator Joan Freeman who voiced her support for an Irish diaspora vote and praised current Irish President Michael D. Higgins on his term.

She was joined by photographer and artist Marie Goretti Moylan, former Aer Lingus employee Patrick Feeney,  journalist Gemma O’Doherty and businessman Seán Gallagher, who ran in the 2011 Presidential race.

RT @SenJoanFreeman: RT @irishineurope: Senator Joan #Freeman secures backing of #Cork City Council for Presidential bid https://t.co/B8558AItdf

— Cork Community (@BestofCork) September 5, 2018

This is not the first out of the ordinary remark that Sharkey has been guilty of in his bid for the Presidency so far. In August, he stated that Ireland needs to emulate President Trump’s “America First” and that it should be mirrored with an “Ireland First” immigration policy.

Sharkey, who has Irish and Nigerian parents, applauded the US President and compared him to the popular Western actor John Wayne, adding that people need to accept Trump is “getting the job done."

"In relation to America, I won 50 quid on Donald Trump. When I saw Trump first I said 'oh my god, it's John Wayne'. You remember John Wayne," Sharkey said, continuing to quote the film star by saying "where are the broads at!"

Read more: Should Ireland’s President Michael D Higgins be re-elected?

"He swaggered in and was like 'where are all the broads'." #Aras18 https://t.co/6ZNZTkyOoC

— Kevin Doyle (@KevDoyle_Indo) August 15, 2018

"He [Mr. Trump] hasn't killed as many as the rest of them [former US presidents], but that's the vote. You may not like him, but I would rather a boss who got the job done than a boss who was a nice man.

"He was elected president and we need to get over it," the artist and activist said, claiming that the 45th President should be applauded for taking on such an important role and for "giving up that beautiful wife and golf” when he became President in his seventies.

What are your thoughts on the death penalty? Let us know in the comments section, below.

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