Fake f liers were ‘lowest of low’ politics, says TD
FAKE leaflets distributed about Fine Gael TD Pat Deering have been slammed by the candidate as ‘the lowest of the low’ and ‘dirty politics at the worst level’.
The outgoing TD, who is seeking re-election in CarlowKilkenny, has in recent days been the victim of a hoax leaflet containing incorrect claims about him being distributed anonymously to voters in his electoral area.
The fake leaflet wrongly claimed his constituency clinic was not being held on January 17 as he would be attending the now cancelled event in Dublin Castle that was set to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary, which was the focus of much controversy early last month. However, Mr Deering has said this is not true.
He said the false claims were initially made in an image posted on social media a number of weeks ago, purporting to be a ‘public notice’ from the Fine Gael politician, and included his image and his party’s logo.
It was written as if it was a note directly from Mr Deering.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Mr Deering blasted the false leaflets as being ‘cheap’ and ‘dirty politics’.
‘Two days ago, a number of my own neighbours contacted me with regard they had received letters in the post – handwritten letters – from I don’t know who, with a copy of a post that was put on Facebook
about three weeks ago, impersonating a photograph of myself with a note on it saying I wouldn’t be having clinics on the 17th of January because I was going to Dublin Castle,’ Mr Deering explained.
He said it was clear that the people who received the leaflets had been directly targeted as they are in his local area.
Meanwhile, speaking separately yesterday about the RIC commemoration controversy, Business Minister Heather Humphreys said ‘there was never any intention to commemorate the Black and Tans’.