Gardaí were called to a People Before Profit stall in Dublin on May 29th after a man allegedly threatened to slit the throat of TD Paul Murphy’s wife. Murphy was at a pro-choice stall in The Square in Tallaght, Dublin, when a man approached and made the threat. Mr Murphy said he and his party had given statements to Gardaí when they arrived, and he himself will be making a formal complaint to Gardaí in relation to the threats as he had left the area before they arrived. This comes less than 24 hours after a video emerged of a woman harassing the TD in Johnstown.
The family home of Mr Murphy has also been targeted in recent weeks by what Mr Murphy described as the “far-right”. “Far-right protesting outside our home right now. We were literally preparing to give our newborn baby a bath,” Murphy said on Twitter in late April. Murphy and his party have drawn the ire of far-right agitators in recent months for their support of asylum seekers. Murphy is not the only politician to experience a protest outside his family home in recent years, with protesters convening outside the homes of Stephen Donnelly, Simon Harris and Leo Varadkar in recent years.
Murphy has been an outspoken critic of the Irish government and the ruling Fine Gael party, which he believes has failed to adequately address the economic and social needs of working people. He has also been a vocal advocate for the rights of asylum seekers and refugees in Ireland. Murphy’s activism has earned him criticism from some right-wing groups in Ireland, who accuse him of promoting a dangerous, far-left agenda. However, many others see him as a principled and courageous politician who is unafraid to speak truth to power.
The incident comes amid a controversy over the proposed closure of a local post office in Tallaght. Murphy has been a leader in the efforts to save the post office, which he says is a vital service for the people of Tallaght. The proposed closure has sparked widespread outrage among members of the community, who say it will cause significant inconvenience to many local residents.
Murphy’s supporters have condemned the recent threats against him and his family, calling them an attempt to silence him and intimidate others who dare to speak out against injustice. They have also criticized the police response to the incident, noting that Murphy’s family should not have to live in fear for their safety. Many have called on the Irish government to do more to protect politicians and their families from threats and harassment.
In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in threats and harassment against politicians and public figures in Ireland. The growing influence of extremist groups and the rise of social media have made it easier than ever for individuals to target public figures with threats and abuse. This has led to calls for greater protections for politicians and their families, as well as stricter laws against online abuse and harassment. Until such measures are put in place, however, those who dare to speak truth to power will continue to face threats and intimidation, and their families will continue to live in fear.
