Councillors face shocking scale of intimidation
64% have been victim of threats or harassment
TWO-THIRDS of councillors revealed they have suffered damage to their property, arson, racial abuse and threats of death and physical and sexual violence.
Ireland’s 929 councillors were asked to detail the shocking catalogue of intimidation and harassment between 2021 and 2023.
And 64% of the 226 respondents revealed they have been a victim of threats, harassment, and intimidation over the past two years.
Of these, 38% encountered threats on social media and almost 33% faced face-to-face encounters, including physical attacks and racial abuse.
A breakdown shows that almost 36% of threats made were of violence towards councillors, some 17% of threats related to damage to property, over 5% were threats of violence towards a councillor’s family, and almost 5% were death threats.
More than 6% of the respondents said they had been followed or stalked, while other threats included sexually explicit contacts (4.8%), physical attacks (2.7%), protests at councillors’ homes (2.7%), arson (3%), and racial abuse via an email or letter (2.2%).
Issues such as the housing crisis have contributed to the abuse, the Association of Irish Local Government said.
The AILG published the councillors’ accounts yesterday and called for more prosecutions to protect the political representatives.
The AILG, which is the national representative body for councillors, said its report, conducted in collaboration with Crime
Management Group, provides a “sobering picture of the challenges faced by councillors”.
Wicklow County Council’s Gail Dunne, who is AILG president, yesterday warned of a “normalising of abuse and harassment of councillors”.
Cllr Dunne revealed the AILG has “serious concerns” and said councillors must be protected so that the country can safeguard the “future of local democracy”.
He added: “The report findings demonstrate very little improvement in the rates of abuse and harassment experienced by our members since we conducted our first survey back in 2021.
“It is clear this issue continues to affect our members’ ability to effectively carry out their role and cause them significant concerns about their own safety and security, and that of their families. We must ensure their safety and well-being as they serve our communities.
“The issue is becoming more widespread which has been fuelled by the ongoing housing crisis.” Of the 929 councillors AILG reached out to, 226 responded.
We must ensure their safety and wellbeing as they serve communities CLLR GAIL DUNNE