The Horan dispute
November 28th, 2012 at 9:00 am by David FarrarDanya Levy and Tony Wall report at Stuff:
The mother of NZ First MP Brendan Horan spent money on operations and a new car in the years before she died, a close family source says. …
A family source said yesterday Mrs Horan “spent like a trooper” in the years before she died.
She bought a new Mazda 6 and spent money on operations and plastic surgery in an attempt to save her failing eyesight and her nose after she was diagnosed with skin cancer, the source said.
This just reinforces to me the need to suspend judgement until some facts are established. There is obviously a family dispute, but I don’t know whether or not there has been any wrong-doing by anyone.
Mr Peters twice yesterday refused to express confidence in his MP and reiterated he was still waiting for facts from the family on allegations he described as “very serious”.
That, combined with the fact Peters sent Horan home to sort this out does indicate there is some concern that the allegations could be correct. But again, nothing has been substantiated at this point.
If the allegations are proven, and Horan goes as an MP, then the new NZ First MP would be Helen Mulford. She is currently at 80% on Ipredict to become eligble to become an MP before the next election.
Tags: Brendan Horan
November 28th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Ms Mulford has a madder death stare than Clare Curran, and also reminds me of Hillary Calvert. As much as I love the entertainment Brendan delivers, something tells me Helen Mulford would be a worthy replacement.
Vote:November 28th, 2012 at 11:27 am
Politically meaningless, it’d be like changing the bass player in the Rolling Stones;
Who’s gonna notice? It’d still be the same show
Vote:November 28th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
I’m all for reserving judgement. Always unfortunate when family issues become public.
Vote:I thought attention may have been drawn to the fact that N Z First took what appear to fairly immediate steps with their MP when this became public, no prevaricating over ‘he gave me his word.’
November 28th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
There is no guarantee that he would leave parliament if he is kicked out of NZ First. He could remain as an Independent.
Vote:After all he is a member of a party of “troughers”
Has Winston paid back the $168,000 he stole from the tax-payers?
November 28th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
158K , mind you there is interest to consider on the embezzled amount
Vote:November 28th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Peters was made aware of this some months ago.
Vote:November 28th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
It would indeed be amusing if Horan pops out out this more lily white than the VM after having been humiliated by being sent home by his glorious leader; one of the dogiest little pricks to ever crawl out of the political slime.
Vote:November 28th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Nostalgia-NZ notes:
Indeed, Winston has acted very properly over what, even in a worst-case-scenario, is question over the receipt and expenditure of private monies.
I wonder if Mr Horan is sitting at home right now comparing his treatment with that meted out to Michael Laws, who was accused of creating a vehicle (a polling company of which is then wife was sole director) which then spent considerable sums of public money (at the behest of Cr Laws) on unnecessary polling in Hawkes Bay, the results of which – showing, amazingly enough, that one Cr Laws was beloved by the people – were signed off by one Antoinette Beck.
That situation led to Winston repeating a lie to the Parliament on the very basis that “he gave me his word”; forcing a resignation only when there was absolutely no other option; hiring the former MP back to re-write the Party’s entire policy platform; and repeatedly lying about said employment to the media.
If I were Mr Horan I’d be asking my Leader to explain quite why he’s busily stacking kindling for the sacrificial pyre in this instance, but was prepared to throw himself on it, like a Hindu widow, beside Mr Laws.
Vote:November 28th, 2012 at 2:46 pm
Now Rex, don’t pretend you can’t see the irony in the identity of the person who sent him home over inferred and completely unsubstantiated (as distinct from substantiated
) dodgy dealings …
Vote:November 29th, 2012 at 8:00 am
I see this issue as more than if Horan broke the law. I just heard from an oversea’s friend that a sibling had “borrowed” my mother’s last savings which my brother and myself thought were “ring-fenced” for my mother’s own use.
I think MPs should be self sufficient adults. In this case it would appear that there is no question of anything illegal but I think there is a moral issue.
In the case of Horan or any other MP I would not be impressed with them “borrowing” money other an elderly parent disadvantaging the other siblings but more importantly disadvantaging the parent if that parent needs and wants medical care no matter how old.
Vote:November 29th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
And the operative word is ‘if’. I’d stress that it’s important for commentators to keep an open mind until a diligent police investigation until a case has been proven or otherwise.
Vote:November 29th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
” I’d stress that it’s important for commentators to keep an open mind until a diligent police investigation until a case has been proven or otherwise.”
And if no crime has been committed you are saying it is none of our business?
Vote: