TD receives death threats over budget cuts

Social networking website Facebook has been asked to address concerns about online harassment after a Fine Gael TD received death threats over budget cuts and sought the help of gardaí.

Tom Barry said some of his family discovered the comments on the social network and said he is contemplating proposing legislation to party officials about online threats and bullying.

The Cork East deputy blamed Sinn Féin supporters for some of the abuse and said material had also been posted online to other Government TDs in recent days.

“It was pretty serious stuff like ‘we’re going to murder you and you’ll be murdered’. That stuff can be scary to young people.”

Mr Barry said he had received the death threats on Dec 5 and 6, after budget measures were announced.

“Another recommended I get a rope and a stool,” said Mr Barry. “I’m not prepared to take that from anybody. I’m a father of three. It’s totally unacceptable.

“I’ve contacted Facebook but heard nothing back, and also told the gardaí in Mallow after asking them to go and have a chat with one of these guys. I showed them the picture of him.

“Surely if Facebook have such a strong interest when it comes to business and music rights, they should care about human rights.”

Other TDs have reportedly seen a rise in the number of abusive messages in recent weeks, including one junior minister and a number of backbenchers.

Mr Barry claimed Sinn Féin supporters were behind some of the hate campaigns against elected members, which also included posters with abusive messages being hung up outside constituency offices.

“It’s not party TDs, but their supporters,” said Mr Barry. “The party can’t control them and it’s so strange after Sinn Féin fought so hard in previous years to have its own voice heard.”

Mr Barry said that after he eventually persuaded one harassing individual to remove death threats left online, the person came back and sent him direct threatening messages.

“He said ‘you fucking c**t you’re a scumbag party. You will be sorry’.”

The first-time TD, however, said there was a need to examine the possibility of new legislation to deal with the emerging issue of online harassment, bullying, and threats being experienced by a range of people on the internet in Ireland.

“It’s mad stuff maybe the best way to deal with it would be through legislation,” said Mr Barry.