Gardaí investigate disturbing calls targeting female councillors across Ireland

More than 70 female councillors have reported receiving repeated calls, prompting a national Garda investigation and ministerial condemnation

At least 70 female councillors have reported receiving multiple calls from a withheld number. File picture: iStock

Gardaí are investigating a series of "disturbing" and persistent phone calls made to female councillors across the country by a man who claims to be a "paedophile" seeking to "make a confession".

County councillors from a number of political parties have reported receiving repeated calls from the man, who allegedly asks them to "challenge him".

The Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) said it has received no reports of male councillors receiving similar calls.

Gardaí confirmed the matter is being investigated nationally by An Garda Síochána's Special Detective Unit.

There are 261 women among Ireland's 949 councillors.

'Disturbing' calls

At least 70 female councillors have reported receiving multiple calls from a withheld number. During the calls, the man allegedly claimed to be a "paedophile" with an interest in children aged between 11 and 13.

He allegedly told councillors he wanted to make an "admission" or "disclosure" before saying he was "willing to be challenged".

The caller also allegedly claimed to have downloaded child sexual abuse material.

Independent Tipperary councillor Máirín McGrath told the Irish Examiner that when the man called her on Thursday morning, he claimed to have downloaded almost 247 images of child sexual abuse material and printed some of them at a local pharmacy.

“What stood out to me was the amount of time this individual had to do research before he rang,” Ms McGrath said.

“He had an address that was in my own municipal district, in order for me to engage with him.”

Independent Tipperary councillor Máirín McGrath told the Irish Examiner that when the man called her on Thursday morning, he claimed to have downloaded almost 247 images of child sexual abuse material. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Fine Gael councillor Angie Bailey, from Tralee, told RTÉ's Liveline that she received five phone calls on Wednesday morning after first being contacted by the man last week from a withheld number.

“He said that he wanted to make a disclosure to me that he was identifying as a paedophile and wanted to be challenged,” she said.

She said the caller claimed he had “downloaded paedophile pornographic material” and explained how he “pleasured himself watching such material”.

The councillor questioned whether he was seeking help and told him she was not the appropriate person to provide it.

“He said as a community representative, we needed to be responsible for community safety and that is why he was ringing local representatives,” she said.

Ms Bailey said that since the calls she has made sure her doors and windows are locked each night, expressing concern that he could "rock up" to her house.

“Thinking back on it, it is a lot more terrifying, especially as he seems to have made a full-time job of ringing people,” she continued.

“Before 8am on Wednesday morning, I had five missed calls from him.”

National Garda investigation

A garda spokesperson confirmed the matter is under investigation.

“This matter is being investigated at national level by the An Garda Síochána Special Detective Unit,” the spokesperson said.

“Any threats against elected representatives or political candidates are taken seriously and will be investigated.”

The spokesperson said liaison inspectors have been appointed in every Garda division to "help keep all those participating in political life safe" and are available to receive reports of incidents involving elected representatives.

A Fine Gael spokesperson said the party became aware of the "completely inappropriate and disturbing" calls to some of its female councillors last week.

The spokesperson said all incidents have been reported to gardaí and that the party is co-operating with the investigation.

Minister 'genuinely appalled'

Housing minister James Browne, who has responsibility for local government, told the Irish Examiner he was "genuinely appalled" by the reports and has spoken to the AILG about the issue.

“I am genuinely appalled that the type of contact we are hearing about happening would be made in the first place to any public representative, but then for it to be in any way targeted at our female elected members is unacceptable,” he said.

“I condemn any behaviour which deliberately sets out to harm, frustrate or upset any publicly elected representative of any party and none.

“I have been a councillor myself. We are genuinely proud in this country that our Councillors and Oireachtas members make themselves so available and so contactable at all hours, across social platforms, by phone and in person.”

Mr Browne said the matter is being investigated by gardaí and that he "can't comment further", but added that "any behaviour like this cannot be tolerated or normalised in any fashion."