'I hope your child gets autism': TDs increasingly targeted with online abuse

The abuse is causing many TDs to withdraw from engagement online, many have said, preferring to post and not enter into discussions.

Politicians are being increasingly targeted with personal online abuse about their appearances, personal lives and families with representatives saying the abuse has spiralled since the start of the pandemic.

In one case, Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond was sent a message through Instagram which read "I hope your child gets autism".