LAST UPDATE | 30 Jul

GARDAÍ ARE INVESTIGATING after over 70 women councillors around the country reported receiving “disturbing” and “creepy” calls from a private number in the last two weeks.

The Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) has expressed “serious concern” after it was made aware of the incidents involving repeated calls from an individual who has subjected female elected members to inappropriate sexual comments.

Fine Gael councillor and mayor of Tralee, Angie Bailey, told RTÉ’s Liveline this afternoon that she received a call from a man purporting to be in Dublin earlier this week. 

He told her he was a paedophile and wanted to be “challenged”, before also disclosing what Bailey described as other “disturbing facts”.

Bailey said the phone call was “terrifying” and that she called the gardaí immediately after receiving it. 

Yesterday morning, she received five missed calls from a private number before 8 am. 

“I was at home, I made sure that night that all my doors were locked. I had a window open for the cat, that window is now closed.

“Because if he has access to my phone number, which is public information as a public representative, he also has access to my address, and it is one thing getting a phone call from someone identifying as a paedophile but he could rock up to my house,” Bailey said. 

Vicki Casserly, a Fine Gael for South Dublin County Council told Liveline she received similar calls – 26 in total since 22 July. 

She said the calls haven’t put her off her job, but that she wants them to be taken seriously. 

Sinn Féin councillor for Cork North West, Michelle Gould, was another recipient of the calls. 

She said she received the first one from a blocked number at about 11am on 21 July and only answered because she thought it might be something to do with one of her children rather than work.

“I have two daughters, so if I get a call late at night I will take it,” Gould told Liveline.

“When I answered, it was a very creepy, very low male voice and I actually just hung up. I got another call immediately after it on a private number and I’ve had loads of calls on a private number since. It did shake me a little bit.”

Similar to Casserly, Gould said:

“I think it’s important that people know that this isn’t something that would turn us off politics, it wouldn’t deter me at all.”

To date, AILG has received reports only from female councillors, indicating that this behaviour appears to be a targeted campaign of harassment against women serving in local government.

Elaine Lynch, head of operations with AILG, told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the initial reports were coming in from Monday of last week and have increased over the past number of days.

She said the calls generally come from a withheld or private number.

“What’s particularly concerning is that the reports have come from different local authorities and political parties, and that suggests to us that women are being specifically targeted,” said Lynch.

“In one reported case, after answering a call, a female councillor received a further 16 calls within the space of an hour.”

Lynch added that the calls appear to have a “pattern” and that it “does appear to be one specific individual who is giving a specific name to the female councillors that answer”.

“It is of a sexual nature, with very disturbing comments if the telephone call is answered,” she said.

AILG graphic issued after reports of disturbing calls in recent days AILG AILG

Lynch said her message to female councillors is to “exercise caution with private or withheld numbers, to record details of any incidents – particularly the time log – and report them to their local garda liaison officer.”

She described the calls as a “direct attack on our local democracy” and asked members of the public not to call councillors from blocked numbers.

She noted that contact details of councillors are available on local authority websites and that this is “part of the reason why we’re coming out with this and asking the public to help”.

Lynch added that the main concern of many female councillors is that the “disturbing” calls could result in them being less accessible “because they’re being extra vigilant for their own safety”.

Meanwhile, Lynch expressed hope that incidents like these won’t deter women from running for public office.

“The overwhelming majority of people engage respectfully with their local councillors and I think that’s something we shouldn’t lose sight of,” said Lynch.

“There’s a huge amount of work being done specifically for female councillors, so they have support.

“The parting message I want to give to women is: don’t let the actions of one individual discourage you from public service.”

Minister for Housing and Local Government James Browne said he was “genuinely appalled” by the situation and that it is “unacceptable” for female elected representatives to be targeted in this way. 

“As Minister, and as someone who is committed to public service, I will say that any behaviour like this cannot be tolerated, or normalised in any fashion.”

Elsewhere, a spokesperson for Fine Gael said the party was made aware of the “completely inappropriate and disturbing phone calls” to some of its female councillors.

“All incidents have been reported to the gardaí, and we are liaising with An Garda Síochána in relation to their investigation,” the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said: “This matter is being investigated at national level by An Garda Síochána’s Special Detective Unit.

 ”Any threats against elected representative or political candidates are taken seriously and will be investigated.”