Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
SINN FÉIN’S SPOKESPERSON for Justice, Martin Kenny, condemned an alleged incident perpetrated against fellow TDs Anne Rabbitte and Ciaran Cannon this week, as he opened up about his own experience with security concerns.
A Garda investigation is currently underway following the junior minister’s claim that a bag of excrement was thrown at her and Cannon on Wednesday.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today, Kenny said the incident was “a new low in the way people behave.”
“It’s outrageous, and displays a terrible ignorance on behalf of anyone who would prepare before they come to a public meeting to attack a public representative in that way.”
“I think there has been a development over a number of years now, a small cohort of people seem to think that the more outrageous they can be, the more aggressive they can be, that somehow it’s a badge of honor.
“We have a society that generally has had manners in the past, and it’s very regressive that that has disappeared.”
The TD was asked how the issue related to his own experiences as a politician, referring to a man who was arrested in September after a car was driven through the gates of the home of Kenny’s home.
“It has had a major impact because it has been a huge trauma. We live in a quiet rural area and a great community. But our house is quite near the road. We feel very vulnerable. Our safety has been violated a number of times now and we’ve made the decision that we’re going to sell and move somewhere else,” Kenny stated.
It’s understood that the vehicle drove through the closed gates of the property, narrowly missing the house.
Shortly after the incident Kenny told Leitrim Live that his wife was alone in the house at the time.
“Our children are a little bit older, there’s three of them in college. So if I’m away at night, during the week in Dublin when the Dáil is sitting she would be at home alone. So I’m not able stay in Dublin since this incident happened because she’s not at all comfortable staying in the house on her own,” he continued.
In 2019, the TD’s car was set on fire outside his home in a targeted attack. Nobody was injured in the fire.
Kenny has also submitted death threats he received to Gardaí following a speech he made about asylum seekers in the Dáil Chamber during the same period.
“We have decided to deal with this by moving house, we’re putting as positive a light on it as much as we possibly can.”
When asked if the attacks on his home made him reconsider a life in politics, Kenny said:
“We talked about everything I suppose. And it is something that we’ve talked about certainly. We recognize that being elected, representing the community, representing this constituency is a privilege and an honor.”
“While we may have to change where we live for very practical reasons, I’ve certainly had no intention of backing away from the commitment I made.”
Kenny also celebrated the accesibility of politicians to the public and said that he agrees with measures to increase security for politicians.
“Where that can happen, that should certainly be advanced. Our public representatives who are in a vulnerable position or a dangerous position should certainly be protected.”
“All of us in politics are delighted to be able to be so accessible to the public. And we should continue to do that. We shouldn’t allow a tiny minority of people to undermine that or take that away.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
She was good. Fair play to her
@JusticeForJoe: Psaki, I mean. Best of luck to the newcomer
@JusticeForJoe: Yes, Jen was very smart, the Republicans couldn’t handle her.
@Al Fresco: chucky was no Kayliegh
@Al Fresco: The Republicans can’t handle anything. The “proud to be thick” mentality they have is pervasive here now too. The comments section here is awash with the anti intellectual. It’s all so f@(king depressing. Dim is in fashion.
@Vonvonic: Correct. The same formula is active in Britain and Australia. I hold Murdoch responsible for a lot of it.
@Vonvonic: all republicans dim, all democrats smart? Simple Simon stuff from Vonvonic.
Do people really swallow this box ticking nonsense.
@Moss Cotter: yes. It’s a sign of “progress” by people whom obsess over and measure everything through the lens of colour. I.e racists
@Moss Cotter: cmere moss one has to start somewhere.Every little helps. But I do see yer point.
@Moss Cotter: Yes. Empower the underprivileged. You don’t buy it because you’re sad.
@Paul Gorry: He doesn’t have a point. It’s just misery.
@Vonvonic: very true.
@Moss Cotter: the rationale your using is making the assumption that she has got the job because she is black and openly LGBT, is it not possible that she was the best person for the job who happens to be black and openly LGBT?
To assume the latter says a fair amount about your point of view and been honest doesn’t paint you in a great light.
@Colm O’ Shea: sorry to assume the former…
@Moss Cotter: it’s hardly justbox ticking when she worked in the roll of Deputy and has years of experience. Representation does matter however, and it is a positive that she was selected for this role as an underrepresented minority who was also an excellent candidate for the role. I think it’s very easy to get tired of these ‘box ticking’ exercises when most people you see in positions of power/public facing look like you. But when they don’t?
@Jensen Bhroin: Representation matters but the sanctimonious fanfair around it doesn’t.
have your say