Mick Clifford: A political pitch for polarisation

Why has Paul Murphy used a public forum to present a cartoon image of the far right?

Paul Murphy at the launch of People Before Profit's alternative Budget 2025. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

Dark forces are out to get Paul Murphy. They are trying to silence the People Before Profit TD, but he will not be silenced. This week he posted on X about the campaign. “The establishment and their far-right friends are using every trick in the book to try and silence me,” he wrote. “Don’t let them win. Get involved in my re-election campaign today.”

Inserted into the post is a video in which Mr Murphy wears the face of a hunted man. He notes that he has been a TD for Dublin South West for a decade. “In that time I’ve made many friends in our community,” he says, before going on to deliver his grace note. “But also many enemies in the establishment, wealthy, powerful, hateful people who are spreading lies and misinformation to try to silence me and take me out at the next election.”