Career
Born in Surrey, England, David Thornley took out Irish citizenship and was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) for the Dublin North–West constituency at the 1969 general election. In December 1972 he called for the immediate release of Seán Mac Stíofáin, then leader of the Provisional Ireland Republican Army. He was re-elected at the 1973 general election. In 1976 he voted for the Criminal Justice (Jurisdiction) Bill despite misgivings.
He told The Irish Times: "When I get very depressed I drink too much.
When I voted for the Criminal Justice (Jurisdiction Bill) I went on the batter for a forthnight." He lost his seat at the 1977 general election. If the SLP is good for him, it"s good enough for me".
Thornley died later that year (1978) in County Dublin, aged 42, from undisclosed causes. The Trinity College Labour Branch is also known as the David Thornley Branch.
