Gardai on call over threats to ministers
Dept of Integration HQ was also threatened
PUBLIC Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and his staff were forced to call the gardai after they were threatened with “phys- ical harm” during a menacing call two years ago, it has emerged.
It comes as nearly all Cabinet ministers have revealed that their departments have had to get the cops over some sort of threat.
The damning revelation came following a parliamentary question from Independent TD Carol Nolan who asked all ministers “if their Department has had the need to contact An Garda Siochana due to verbal, written (including electronically) or physical threats being addressed to staff or Ministers, at any level, working within their Depart- ment during the period 2020 to date”.
Integration Minister Roderic O’gorman said last January his department contacted the gardai after somebody threatened to cause damage to their Miesian Plaza HQ.
He also confirmed that Garda assistance has been needed twice by staff in the Citywest Transit Hub due to “aggressive and intimidating behaviours”.
Michael Mcgrath revealed a threat had been received regarding his predecessor in the Department of Finance Paschal Donohoe.
In his response, Deputy Mcgrath said: “I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has received several threats from anonymous callers and members of the public, with threatening and abusive behaviour towards staff.
“In December 2021 my Department received an anonymous call from a member of the public making threats against the state, and verbal abuse to staff.
“Another call was received in January 2022 from a member of the public, the caller was verbally abusive and threatened to cause physical harm to the then Minister and staff of his private office.”
Mr Donohoe, meanwhile, said that the Department of Public Expenditure needed to contact Gardai due to threats but did not provide details.
Meanwhile, Cllr Eileen Lynch told Cork’s 96FM that she has been the victim of death threats and abusive, toxic emails.
She said: “We see people stepping away from politics lately, and many are stating reasons of how toxic and abusive it has become.
“I’ve had the odd death threat and abusive emails and social media messages galore, but I’ve taken it on the chin.”
I’ve had odd death threat.. I’ve taken it on the chin EILEEN LYNCH FACEBOOK POST