Tomás Ó Flatharta

Message from Paul Murphy TD about a January 6 Far-Right Protest :

Far right protesters outside our home on Sat night while we’re putting our baby in bath. They have a sign about Irish homeless but I bet none have helped anyone fight their eviction. They don’t care about children or homeless. They just want to spread hate and division.

https://x.com/paulmurphy_TD/status/1743722455867249087?s=20

Solidarity with Paul Murphy and Jess Spear.

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Context :

Source : People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy Condemns protest Outside His House January 6 2024

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has condemned a protest outside his house on Saturday evening.

Murphy posted on Twitter that “far-right protesters” gathered outside his house as he was putting his child into the bath.

The protesters could be seen holding signs that read “illegal male immigrants are housed before Irish homeless”, “why are military aged men fleeing war?” and “Ireland says no.”

Murphy condemned the protest, saying the protesters “don’t care about children or homeless, they just want to spread hate and division.”

“They have a sign about Irish homeless, but I bet none have helped anyone fight their eviction,” he remarked.

Murphy has repeatedly had protesters outside his home, with protesters gathering outside his home last April.

Last summer, the family home of Independent Councillor Hugh Lewis was targeted by demonstrators, with a brick thrown in through the window.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael Minister Simon Harris have also had their homes targeted by protesters in recent years.

Varadkar condemned the attack on Lewis’ home, saying at the time “whatever views people may have, there is no excuse for attacking any individual or attacking their property.”

“That’s absolutely wrong and should be condemned by everyone unreservedly.”

Former Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu, who has been vocal about intimidation and harassment she has faced in office, said “whether you agree with Paul’s politics it’s one thing, but harrassing him, his wife and their baby by standing outside their home holding signs that trumpet false narratives is quite another thing altogether.”

Fellow elected representatives condemned the protest, with Green Councillor Michael Pidgeon dubbing the protesters “utter losers,” Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan saying the behaviour is “totally unacceptable,” and Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy calling it “unacceptable harassment.”

Last week, graffiti targeting An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar which claims “he sold out the Irish people” appeared in Drimnagh.

The first day of the Dáil sitting after summer recess last September was overshadowed by protesters depicting TDs hanging from mock gallows, forcing Leinster House to go into lockdown.

In September 2023, it was announced that Councillors would be able to avail of a security allowance in response to the level of threat against elected representatives in Ireland.

Announcing the allowance, Minister Kirean O’Donnell stated “this allowance has been introduced in light of increased security and safety incidents experienced by Councillors.  I would hope that this allowance will support and ensure that current and future serving councillors can continue to carry out the excellent and vital work they do locally for their communities.”

Labour leader Ivana Bacik stated before Christmas that election candidates should not have to publish their home addresses, and she said the level of intimidation faced by those running for office is being intolerable.

“Unfortunately, due to the failure of this Government to tackle the far-right and to ensure sufficient safeguards to protect the safety of those who wish to put themselves forward for public office, we know that potential candidates for all parties are fearful of putting their home addresses into the public record. Who could blame them?”