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LABOUR SENATOR LORRAINE Higgins has received another online threat through Facebook – this time being told her head would be ripped off her shoulders.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Seán O’Rourke this morning, Higgins said she reported the threat, which was posted on her personal Facebook page, to gardaí.
In the comment, Higgins said the man threatened to “rip my head from my shoulders and shove it where the sun don’t shine”.
He reiterated that at the end of the comment as well on Facebook. He came out with a number of other insults and abusive comments as well.
An officer from Donnybook station has since carried out a safety assessment at the Senator’s home and at her parents’ house. She said a number of “vulnerabilities” were identified and gardaí suggested increasing security in the run up to the next general election.
Though Higgins said she is “used to this being part and parcel of public life” she said it is difficult for members of her family who did not sign up to the political life.
She believes the threatening comments were a direct result of contributions she made during a recent appearance on RTÉ’s Prime Time in which she criticised the four jailed water protesters.
On the show, the Senator said they had not been imprisoned for peacefully protesting, but for stopping people from doing their jobs and they “quite wilfully broke” the laws of the land.
Today she said she respects all views on water charges but feels she was making a “very legitimate point at the time”.
Higgins has received a number of death threats before and had to delete her professional Facebook page in November because of what she described as a “tirade of abuse”.
Gardaí are now investigating this more recent threat on her personal Facebook page and are working to track down the man responsible.
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She gets a huge amount of coverage for someone that has never won an election.
Is that the point? How do you sell something, you keep it in peoples minds a lot of the time?
To be fair, Pontius, Bacik is one of the six actually elected to the Senate. The other 55 (like Higgins), you are spot on with.
The Journal are deleting comments now on top of everything else. Guess my opinion wasn’t the right one.
She gets a huge amount of coverage for issues which aren’t political – that is to say non-specific, and presumably non-credible, threats from anonymous people on the internet. Why any of this is news at all is beyond me.
Presumably Facebook, or twitter, would cooperate in a Garda investigation and relinquish IP/sign-up information to assist their investigation.
She ‘thinks’ it is due to comments she made about water protesters – so now she is psychic?
Elected by whom .
“She gets a huge amount of coverage for someone that has never won an election.”
Dead on- she gets more cheap publicity than Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary.!
Journal.ie has deleted aheap of comments on this story must be afraid higgins is going to read the story on her tea break………
My truthful comment was deleted.
It had a lot of ‘thumbs up’
This place is getting as bad as RTE.
What is sadly lacking in this country is courageous journalism.
She’s a dainty sensitive type , probably not suited to politics, maybe the people have sensed this and decided not to elect her every time she’s been on the ticket .
I wonder if I rang RTÉ’s Seán O’Rourke, and told that I had received anonymous death threats – presumably from FG, because of my stance against corruption & treason, – would I be featured on the Journal.ie…..??
And would all the FG comments of denial be deleted…??
How do they know that it was a ‘man’?
Well he’s usually known as the “bogeyman” so we must assume he’s male.
With a Water protest coming up at the weekend it was only time before a story like this was going to be reported to turn people off. I don’t agree with this behaviour but I also don’t agree with releasing stories like this to the media to turn people against protesting!!…
So censor the news is what you’re saying?
No just don’t give a platform to outrageous assumptions by unelected cyber bullies
Like water protesters?
When Sean o rourke has an average irish water protestor on you let me know.
When they have something news worthy to say I am sure he will.
You consider the Facebook post made to lorraine newsworthy?
She is a Public Figure being threatened so yes I would. No more so than if someone publicly threatened to say harm Bono. I find him a detestable little man and disagree with most of his opinions but if someone threatened to kill or harm him and he reported it to the Gardai then I would say that it was news worthy too.
Bono makes tunes what does lorraine higgins do?
He also gives his opinions.
What does lorraine higgins do?
She represents the Labour Party in the Senate and does what Senators do, scrutinize legislation sent from the Dail and either pass it on to the President to sign or send it back to the Dail.
None of its newsworthy anyway it seems. All articles are about her fails or her accusations
Accusations the Gardai seem to be taking seriously enough to warrant an investigation.
Something a bit fishy here. 200 TDs and senators, yet Lorraine Higgins name seems to pop up as being threatened at the most opportune of moments. She was threatened online just before people had the chance to vote for her in the last election, apparently by an anonymous person who she nevertheless knew to be a sinn fein supporter despite her not knowing who they were (work that one out), and now, two days before the next big water protest, shes being threatened by an anonymous person who shes tying to the water protests.
Anyone heard anything about the investigation which was launched after the death threat a YEAR ago? No? No arrests? No charges?
Jammin it’s all a conspiracy against SF who have enough on their plate after the latest abuse allegations.
Jammin is so far up Jarry Adams arse all you see is his boots sticking out
You stay classy Jammin
I have sympathy for the senator nobody should be subjected to such abuse but she is making an assumption that it is related to her remarks about the protesters it may be a another matter entirely but by her statement rightfully or wrongly she has connected it to protesters with no evidence.
She has also done so, conveniently enough, 2 days before the next big protest.
well no one agrees with that behaviour i think it achieves nothing. but to put it on the shoulders of thousands of people is just ludicrous. it was one individual. the water protesters are doing something right as lab/fg has come out with some language regarding them terrorists dissidents isis and sinister fringe now this talk about the fear factor.
Clearly wrong to say such things.
She does appear to rub people up the wrong way though by her mannerisms and general air. Personally I do not like what she stands over and stands for. And it is difficult to separate those things and her as a person so I can see why people are angry at HER rather than what she is saying.
She believes the threatening comments were direct result of contributions on prime time. So basically she doesn’t know why these comments were made or about what. She is only making assumptions that it is to do with water charges. It could be any reason . no one should make these comments as its not right. But just to make assumptions is also not right.
She thinks it’s related to comments she made about water meter protesters !! Give her a medal for her detective work. Ask her if there’s anyone else she thinks it could be. Perhaps she’s pissed other folk off to.
Can anyone get the gardai out to assess vulnerabilities at their homes (I assume free of charge)
John if you report to the Gardai that you have been threatened and have evidence of that threat then yes you can get a member of the Gardai to come to your home and give you advice on upgrading your security.
Even if the threat is obviously not serious?
Emily the Gardai would determine the seriousness of the threat and to whom was being threatened.
To whom was being threatened?
You mean because she’s a failed election candidate appointed to a political role nonsense threats from anonymous randomers on the internet are taken more seriously?
And here I was thinking Ireland was a republic.
John,
No Alan “to whom” is referring to the likelihood of an assault taking place due to the nature of what that person does or their public profile.
This person’s “public profile” exists pretty much entirely from publicity over non-credible threats from anonymous randomer on the internet.
She works in one of the most protected office buildings in the country, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t walk to work, I’d be pretty sure she lives in a nice area and I’m pretty sure the person who supposedly threatened to rip her head off and shove it up her hole had no intention to do so. Threat level – 0.
If some randomer threatened to rip my head off and shove up it my hole (which is a fair possibility on here) and I reported it to the Gardaí I’d be laughed out of the station, in spite of not having the level of protection the good Senator does.
This is just attention seeking nonsense on the part of the Senator. Why she felt the need to publicise it, other than to gain some media attention, is beyond me. It’s utter nonsense and most people can see that.
Alan. How do you personally know if a threat to a Public Figure is a real or not? Unless you are the one making the threat you can’t know. All it takes is one crazy to make a threat and then carry it out. Just like happened in the US to Senator Gifford. She used to get hundreds of threats too. And like you have done people said that they weren’t credible until it happened.
“Unless you are the one making the threat you can’t know.” Well, we’re all free to speculate how credible a threat from a random anonymous person to rip our heads off and shove it up our holes is, can’t we?
Indeed, one could also speculate that given the Garda response was to offer some advice on the security of her house, rather than to investigate the source of the threat or offer her protection we can assume that it was, as most people assume, a load of nonsense.
Loughner, the bloke who shot Senator Giffords, didn’t send her any threats. He also shot her, a much more common and practical method of killing someone than ripping their head off and shoving it up their hole. A method of murder I can’t seem to find any instance of at all.
Alan they are investigating the threat. That is the point.
Neither the Journal nor the Independent state that they are investigating the issue. Just that they did an assessment of her home. The Irish Times doesn’t mention the story at all.
In a survey of potential MEP candidates last year by @SSDPIreland, Lorraine Higgins was the only one to vote against medical cannabis stating “there are no benefits from illegal drugs”. 60% of all candidates replied, 96% of these were in favor of legalising medical cannabis and 75% were in favor of decriminalisating personal use.
Any surveys on people on the internet being mean to potential MEP candidates?
She’s right though, they broke the law and they deserved to be behind bars
What law did they break?
LORS law
The one that says you can’t threaten to kill someone
Someone said he would bate me when I nearly cycled into him last night as he was crossing the road. Not sure on the level of bating I would have got him of the chances of dying but ill go and assume it’s a death treat.
Do I report him to the gardai? How long will he spend in jail?
Nothing stopping you reporting it to the Gardai Kevin. And what sentence he is given would be up to the court if he was convicted.
I’ll look forward to the case then,Boganity ..
Why hasn’t Sean o rourke rand me yet?
Have you reported it to the Gardai Kevin?
Details of my case are confidential but I am sure he was a water protestor high up in the movement! Does Sean o rourke do Sundays?
They’ve not caught the culprit…what are you trying to tell us Thomas ? On your way down to Kevin street are you ?
Nobody is asking for the confidential details of your case Kevin. The only thing asked was, have you reported the threat you said you recived to the Gardai?
Making a joke/point, thanks for laughing
Why would I do that,Boganity ?
No Kevin you were trying to be facious.
I was talking about the water protesters who be defying a court order broke the law.
I break the law every now and again when I consume cannabis. Some laws are made to be broken and justified law breaking happens all over the world.
1930s prohibition
Homophobic laws
Racist laws
Censorship laws
Piracy laws etc etc etc
Kevin you think Piracy laws should be broken? So if you invented something and patented and I made copies of it and sold it without paying you any royalties for my copies you would be ok with that?
I just downloaded bob Marleys greatest hits. I wanted to ask him if it’d cool but…
You cool with the other laws or do you just want to corner the argument away from the issue I’ve just put foward?
Kevin. You campaign within a law to change it. That is why we have a democracy. If you lived in say dictatorial communist state then I would agree with your sentiments. But it is the nature of the freedoms by which we live that we have a democracy and we choose those who make the laws for us. And if we don’t like those laws we can bring pressure to bare on those that we the citizens of the state elected to change those laws or face de-selection at the next round of elections.
I too will only only obey the laws that I fell like
That’s the quality of water protesters now.
No, it’s the quality of every Internet troll since trolling began
Its not the quality of all water protesters just a very small minority
True Eddie but that minority is colouring perceptions of the protest as a whole
Personal attack: the last refuge of a morally bankrupt argument
Or the truth hurts
Or how ironic, someone condemning their thuggish behaviour is personally attacked by someone defending them.
Sorry Kevin none of your comment makes any sense to me.
I had a feeling that was the case. See if you can count the amount of votes lorraine higgins got to achieve her large salary/expenses and pension.(hint) It’s a number between -1 & 1
She might get one vote kevin if shes smart enough to vote for herself. Labour are really pushing this girl but i cant see why. Is this the best they have?
It’s the best that is going to be running in 2016 as the old brass are retiring along with many heads leaving since 2011. Their Ard fheis was dead. Labour meltdown in full effect.
Sorry Kevin…still nothing
Les Behan thank you for repeating your personal attack on me, I got it first time round and I think I pretty we’ll cover you with the three option tick box responses I provided…I see you’ve ticked the second box. Sorry but the first box was the correct answer…”morally bankrupt”
Good night, and thanks for coming…
Nightime in Oz
Boganity it’s not necessary for you to be replying to yourself continually. You seem to be a bit of a screaming attention seeker.
If you can’t stick the heat ,get out of the kitchen
Is it not already “where the sun don’t shine”
Yes Todd it most certainly is.
Trying hard to be elected,should not get publicity.
I would imagine there are quite a few politicians living under threat of violence or death. Martin mcguinness and gerry adams are constantly getting death threats but why so much coverage on this unelected woman whose threats, whilst nasty, are hardly life threatening or even newsworthy.
How did this person post on Higgins personal page? Has she not heard of Privacy Settings?
Lorraine’s privacy settings are conveniently setup so that a visitor can see her self praise or ” the great work” she does in the community while you are unable to comment on her page without being accepted as a friend.
Recently to mark International Womens Day she hosted an event in Galway where she was the main speaker…
She also seems to be claiming personal credit for Apples decision to locate to Athenry
Your sure to spot Lorraine wherever there’s a camera!!
An accusation of this sort should be left in the hands of the Gardai while the complainant keeps the matter private until the end of the investigation.
Ms Higgins always strikes me as one of those people who you deliberately avoid inviting to the party but she still turns up and manages to take over the whole party and claim the praise!!!
The Journal are deleting comments now on top of everything else. Top class journalism here.
It’s rather annoying. It would be nice if they notified you it’s been done.
Hard to have sympathy as this politician constantly talks over people on tv and radio debates. Amongst the rudest in UK and Irish politics based on European elections campaign.
This is old news – was on Twitter some time back.
Wonder why it is only out on the Journal today ?
Are threats to politicians any worse than what others have to put up with,
We had actual assaults on our streets over St.Patricks day and every weekend.
Does Sean O rourke interview everyone now, or just those who have a message to send to the public
I am not a fan of Labour nor of the Senators. But from many of the posts I have read so far many of you seem to think that making threats of violence to people on social media is acceptable as very few of you have condemned the person or persons making those threats. You have told us what you think of the Senator but no condemnation of the threats.
Why comdemn the threats by wasting a comment on the obvious? Go to the gardai report your complain and don’t go waffling on Sean o rourke for sympathy. My argument is no 4 time unelected politician who takes part in cyber bullying deserves the platform to make such outrageous assumptions when it’s a matter for the gardai.
I condemn all threats made to anyone everywhere is that cool?
Thats fine Kevin but why did it take me highlighting it before you did? It should have been the very first sentence of your very first post. And judging by the red thumbs it seems people do think that making threats is acceptable.
I too said that whoever made these comments that it was not right. But I also find it not right that a politician goes on national radio and makes assumptions on what she believes . when her assumptions could be wrong.
I’m responding to your assumption which are false.
First off lorraine higgins along we it all 7 billion of us human do not deserve any threats or abuse. Secondly going on national radio making assumptions when you have no facts is clearly to put people off the protest Saturday and a low blow from a politician who regularly breaks her own morals.
I’m saying she doesn’t deserve the platform and she doesn’t deserve to be in the Seanad which she failed the election for by the way.
Little One from what I can see she was expressing her opinion. You can agree or disagree freely that is the nature of an open society. But it crosses the line when you start getting threatened because you expressed your opinion. Should it be that only those making the threats are allowed to speak publicly?
Alleged threats or have you seen them .
You are of course right Mike… But horrible personal comments are par for the course on the Journal I am afraid..
Love reading the journal to keep up with the news etc but I am constantly sickened by some of the comments.
I often give out about them to my Family who keep telling me to give up reading ‘that Journal’ but I don’t listen to them anymore and maybe I should….
An opinion on facts yet to be proved or disproven is an assumption and a stupid assumption at that. I have a threat I’d like to report but it won’t get me on Sean o rourke. Unelected politicians don’t deserve the platform
Kevin. Since when do you decide who should be allowed speak and who shouldn’t. Should you be allowed express yourself publicly on the Journal if someone like you objected to it.
She is a public figure and as such will get air time on TV and Radio. The fact that you don’t like it that she was not directly elected by popular vote has got to do with the system of selecting Senators something she has used to her advantage as has ever single other Senator.
Why don’t you start a campaign to get it changed if you find it so offensive?
I have a right to express whether I feel someone deserves a platform or not and I did just that. What’s your problem?
its up to FG to bring about seanad reform but enda seems to like his endapendents too much. When you fail local, national, seanad and European elections in a row it’s made clear the people don’t want you so why break their wishes by taking an appointment?
Deco if they were on her Facebook account then I am sure She has shown the evidence to the Gardai who in turn deemed the threats serious enough to give her advice on upgrading her security. You see Deco that is the thing about writing stuff on Social media it is written proof for anyone to see unlike a verbal threat where once said unless there are witnesses around to confirm it, it becomes your word against theirs.
Still only alleged until I see it for myself , I wouldn’t believe Lorraine Higgins if she told me she was Lorraine Higgins .
Again you are saying she doesn’t deserve a platform. And that is your opinion. But you are using the Journal as a platform to express your opinion are you elected by popular universal vote to a Public body?
This is a public forum , Sean o rourke isn’t yet it’s publicly funded. How many weeks would it take me to get a minute on that show? Chances are I wouldn’t
I’ll ask you again why go against the wishes of your electorate and take an appointment?
I’m not sure Mick, that it means making threats is acceptable, I think it means that taking, at face value, anything this woman says, is unacceptable.
She has said Gardai are looking into it so let them get on with it and reserve judgement until evidence comes to light.
As I said Kevin if what you were saying was news worthy then I am sure those on RTE would have you on one of the talk shows. But as you are not a Public Figure nor is what you are saying particularly news worthy that is why you are not getting the same publicity.
So if you wish to get the same type of platform as she has then stand for Public Office in the Senate like she has.
And fail then get appointed.
Do you feel she has gone against the wishes of her electorate given she has been rejected in her area 4 times since 2009?
As for taking the appointment those that sent her to the Senate could de-select her at the next election. That is the nature of our democracy. It was the peoples democratic vote that put Enda and Co in power. And if the majority of the Population wanted to change how the Senate is elected then it is up to people to let their TD’s know how they feel and unless they vote to change it they will not get re-elected.
Kevin. As I have already pointed out the system currently in place doesn’t elect the members of the Senate by universal popular vote. So the only constituents that she has to please are those that selected her. And as I have also said that if you don’t like the current system why don’t you start a campaign to being pressure to bare on the current sitting TD’s to change it.
How are you so sure , you sound as if you have some sort of inside track on this matter are you related to the unelected senator ? Just curious .
So she represents enda. Do you remember the Seanad referendum? Enda made promises after the referendum do you remember them?
Well what enda said will answer as to why I’m not campaigning as the promises of reform have already been made.
She deserves a platform as a private citizen like anyone , but shes claiming to be a politician , who elected her to speak on behalf on the people she claims to represent , no one .
She has been firmly rejected on numerous ballots yet seems to get her face out front every day , yet people in movements like direct democracy ireland are ignored by the media despite besting labour in the meath east by election.
Deco. Is She a Senator or not? Irrespective how how she got the position and irrespective of whether or not you like it, She is a Public Figure and as such will be given air time on TV and Radio to express her opinions and those of the Current Government parties to whom she is a member of one and in a Public role.
Public figures aren’t public figures from their position. If that’s the case top civil servants would be celebs. Public figures are widely known by the public. Judging on her election results either nobody knows her or nobody likes her. Take you pick
Many are. The Chairman of the Central Bank for example. His signature is on every banknote issued by the Central Bank in this country.
I’m a little miffed!
Someone makes a threat on facebook, Higgins makes a complaint to the Guards and Higgins then goes on to RTE to discuss the issue. Now, baring in mind no one has been charged (so far) so the Sub Judice rule does not come into play (yet), does it not seem strange to anyone else that the woman is discussing the issue while the Guards are conducting their investigation?
Surely keeping your mouth shut about it until someone is arrested would be the norm?
I’ll bet good money nothing, absolutely nothing comes of this.
Shouldn’t a threat be classed as something that is possible rather than impossible, there has never been a case where this has happened to anyone.
It is not right to bully in any form but shoving any head up their own rear is impossible?
Yea and no mention of the head been cut off to make it possible. Not a very practical murderer this dude.
Who ever said weirdos and murderers were sane lol.
Why dose’nt this woman get the message that the electrode has sent her
Lets be honest here. There is a significant minority within “unlimited quantities of piped water for most movement” who are just anti democratic fascist bully boys.
Hi lorraine censorship and jounalism dont go together. So either allow comments for all sides or become a propaganda sheet.
Ooops michelle ……cmon we all have a say not just your luvvie friends.
I would give her one, but I would not vote for her.
Unacceptable behaviour does not become acceptable because it is condoned by some moronic thuggish Shinner type louts posting here.
Jaysus Pat Lyons is this the first time we’ve agreed on something ?
Bog, it just means that your cerebral capability is increasing. There is hope for you yet.
Red thumbs from idiots are irrelevant. In fact, idiots’ red thumbs can indicate approval by the intelligent.
LOL
I’m astounded at the level of support on this thread for cyber-bullying, and at the number of Neanderthals who think that threatening a woman with violence is ok.
What had happened to normal decent values?
I don’t see an “astonishing” level of support for cyber-bullying here.
What I do see is a not so astonishing level of incredulity that this is in any way newsworthy at all.
If Lorraine could just manage to keep her foot out of her mouth she could become quite a successful politician. Seems a bright articulate lady but needs to eliminate those gaffs to progress!
Politics seems a tough game but in Ireland it urgently needs more young blood to replace current ageing corp of generals and troops bankrupt of fresh ideas and policies necessary to dig us out of current morass.
have your say