Cavan joins in condeming threats to Simon Harris and family

'To threaten a child is a new low' - Cllr Winston Bennett

A MOTION which condemned the online threats to Tánaiste Simon Harris and his family received cross-party support in Cavan County Council this week.

The motion tabled by Fine Gael Councillor Winston Bennett at the most recent sitting of Cavan County Council on Monday called for the “condemnation of threats” to the party leader and members of his family.

At the beginning of last week, an online threat was made to Simon Harris’ children and was followed by a direct threat made online to a close female member of the Tanaiste's family on Friday last.

“It’s bad enough to threaten a politician,” Winston Bennett said, “but to threaten a child is a new low.

“We all want more people joining politics but when a young person reads something like this they wouldn’t be encouraged.”

Winston Bennett’s Fine Gael colleague Trevor Smith spoke to “strongly concur” with the sentiments of the motion and added: “When families are targeted democracy is attacked.”

Councillor Damien Brady spoke on behalf of his party when he said: “The Sinn Féin group supports calls to condemn threats to politicians’ families” continuing, “It’s easy to threaten from behind a keyboard.”

Clifford Kelly (FF) said he thought what Simon Harrs has had to put up with is “disfgraceful” while Independent Councillor Brendan Fay said this type of behaviour online “has to be stopped”.

Cllr Fay added that “the budget is coming up and people probably won’t be happy and what then?”

Aontú’s Adrian Rogers said he supports Cllr Bennett’s motion along with Fianna Fáil councillor Patricia Walsh.

An impassioned Cllr Walsh said: “Anyone can sit in this chair any time. People do it to serve their communities but when the likes of this goes on; a young man and his young family being threatened, I can’t blame anyone for not getting involved.”

Independent Ireland Councillor Shane P. O’Reilly “condemned outright” what happened to Tánaiste Simon Harris speaking of other attacks on politicians including an attack on Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness’ home.

However, the vice-chair of Ballyjamesduff MD also criticised politicians for their attacks on each other and said that for some time there has been a “race to the bottom” among politicians when there should be “honour between public representatives”.