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Unsolicited calls to Holohan and Glynn are 'appalling', says Donnelly

The chief medical officer and his deputy have received threatening phone calls recently.

MINISTER FOR HEALTH Stephen Donnelly has described threatening and nuisance calls made to senior members of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) as “appalling”.

The Sunday Independent has reported that Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan and his deputy Ronan Glynn have received unwanted late-night calls from a number of unidentified people.

Gardaí have launched an investigation into the harassment, which they believe is co-ordinated.

Donnelly wrote on Twitter today: “It is absolutely appalling that public health doctors advising Government would be targeted with abuse for doing their jobs in the middle of a pandemic.”

“They have worked relentlessly throughout Covid and have difficult jobs to do. They deserve our respect and support.”

Holohan’s private phone number and his home address were uploaded and circulated among online groups of anti-vaccine protesters and conspiracy theorists.

Gardai believe the information was obtained from an old Eircom telephone book and was not a data breach, according to the Sunday Times.

Facebook confirmed to The Journal on Friday that the post in question had been removed for violating its Community Standards.

Holohan and Glynn have received security advice and additional measures to ensure their personal safety have been put in place. Patrols around their homes have been organised as a precaution.

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    Mute hbenroe
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    Sep 9th 2011, 9:44 PM

    Why does this stuff seem to happen so much in Austria.

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    Mute Gis Bayertz
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    Sep 9th 2011, 10:47 PM

    Good question

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    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
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    Sep 9th 2011, 11:51 PM

    It happens far more often here but usually involves priests and no cellars.

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    Mute bethehokies
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    Sep 10th 2011, 12:25 AM

    Buck… how dare you be so flippant and dismissive of those thousands upon thousands who suffered abuse within the home at the hands of family members.

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    Mute Omnipube
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    Sep 10th 2011, 12:39 AM

    Ah yeah but that’s not really "abuse". Its just families being close

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    Mute BcuTCM0P
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    Sep 10th 2011, 2:48 AM

    It’s called living in Cavan

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