 In 1986, Nugent joined the newly founded Progressive Democrats, working with Michael Keating TD, a friend since his VEC days.He soon left the PDs, saying that he was disillusioned with the clientilist system and that he believed in the need to tackle the Northern Ireland problem on a cross-party basis.In the late 1980s, Nugent was spokesperson for a campaign against the conviction of two Tallaght youths for robbery and assault.