The increase in abuses and attacks on politicians reflects a “very bad direction” Irish society is headed, says Sinn Fein’s TD Martin Kenny.
He was speaking after Gardaí warned politicians to take extra security measures, including using personal alarms and altering routines and commute times.
Politicians were also advised to lock their doors while driving, avoid empty vehicles on public transport, and wear comfortable shoes so they could move quickly in case of an incident.
advice was given after A bag of excreta was thrown at 2 TDs At a public meeting last week.
Meanwhile, across the ocean, two British MPs, Joe Cox and David Ames, have been murdered in the past six years.
upon newstalk breakfastMartin Kenny, justice spokesman for Sinn Fein, said the increase in abuses and attacks on politicians “reflects society as a whole and how it is heading in a very bad direction.” .
Deputy Kenny recently decided to move house with his family various incidents in his home in recent years.
In 2019, his The car was set on fire on suspicion of arson Outside his home, back in September, a car drove through the gates of his property.
“Unfortunately, we live in a society with very few people who get very angry and get in the way and sometimes take things too far,” he said.
“Sometimes there are people on board who drink alcohol and do things like that and have all sorts of problems and are very aggressive.
“We’ve seen it in precinct offices, but we’ve seen it in various places, sometimes on the street.
“While it is very frightening and alarming that people are treated in this way in public, I am aware that bus drivers are being attacked in our cities. Emergency Department people recognize that they often have to deal with highly aggressive people, and it’s not just people in political life who have to deal with this.
“People from all walks of life in our society have to deal with this.”
Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny.Deputy Kenny noted that Irish politicians have traditionally been “very open” and approachable by the public.
He agreed that that era could soon be over if things continued as they were.
“There’s this idea that it’s almost a virtue to be angry and aggressive and very overzealous when dealing with public representatives,” he said. .
“Sometimes when people say things like that, they are verbally abusive, but others are physically abusive and at other times they take it a step further.
“I had an incident at home that put me in a situation where I made the logical and practical decision to move house. For this kind of behavior, that’s what we have to do.”
As part of its new security advice, Oireachtas is seeking funding for a new scheme for politicians to increase personal security.
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