Kelly death threats: Tormentors must be found

Revelations over the weekend by Environment Minister Alan Kelly that he, his family and his staff have been subjected to death threats by dissident republicans should be profoundly shocking. 

Yet, given the aggressive intimidation and sometimes ugly violence we have seen to date in the water charges fiasco, there is the danger Mr Kelly’s comments could be a one-day wonder.

We should be vigilant to ensure it is no such thing, and the Minister for Justice and gardaí must do everything possible to guarantee it is not. Whatever needs to be done to track down and prosecute these so-called dissident republicans – who are really opportunistic criminal thugs – should be done.

Recent high-profile criminal trials have shown the highly impressive expertise in complex mobile phone tracking capability possessed by gardaí. This expertise must be brought to bear to put away those who seek to undermine our democracy in such a cowardly manner. Anyone brought to justice should be spared any leniency by the judiciary.

We have witnessed all too often the fragility of democracies in other countries and this should serve as a constant reminder that we must do everything possible to stamp out these undemocratic and deluded so-called dissidents.

Mr Kelly is right when he says they are not really interested in water charges. For them, Irish Water is just another convenient Trojan horse for criminality and anarchy.