DPP to receive file on Kenny death threat

A file is being sent to the DPP to determine if a Castlebar man is to be charged after a death threat was made against Taoiseach Enda Kenny on Facebook.

A complaint was made to local gardaí by Mr Kenny’s parliamentary secretary, Ger Deere, on the Taoiseach’s behalf on Thursday morning over a comment made on a Facebook page almost three weeks ago.

The page in question is a campaign called Save the Sacred Heart Hospital Castlebar, which had the following comment posted on May 18: “If they close this hospital il shoot Enda Kenny JFK assassination style.”

A man from Castlebar, Co Mayo, was taken in for questioning following the complaint, and while gardaí would not comment on specifics, they confirmed they were investigating a complaint about a comment on Facebook and that a file was being sent to the DPP, who will determine if there will be any charges.

The future of the Sacred Heart Hospital had been a contentious, political issue in the Taoiseach’s home town in recent months, but Enda Kenny announced the provision of €11m in funding on Wednesday evening, which, he said, would secure the future of the care facility in the town.

The social media campaign was launched last month and there was a rally outside the hospital on May 27. Members of the Fianna Fáil party in the town were involved heavily in the campaign, but claimed it was not a political protest.

Ger Deere, a member of Castlebar Town Council, said that by not taking down the comment, those behind the campaign had erred greatly.

“The comment was a very serious one and we felt it should be passed onto the gardaí. It crossed the line,” he said.

“Those operating social media should always monitor and police their pages. The operators were so quick to comment on how many ‘likes’ and good reaction they received, but they didn’t see fit to take this down. I’m very disappointed with the operators.”

Conor Smyth, the administrator of the Save the Sacred Heart Hospital Castlebar Facebook page, said he had no comment to make concerning the threat to Enda Kenny as the matter was now with the gardaí.