Graffiti sparks alarm as politician reveals phone calls and voicemail threats forced office closure

THREATENING graffiti reading ‘Kill a TD’ daubed on a public recycling bin in Carlow town centre has drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum, as local minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor revealed that a spate of threats forced her constituency office to close for an afternoon and to install a secure entry system.

The graffiti, which was accompanied by a signature-style ‘tag,’ was spotted last Thursday by a member of the public who reported it to The Nationalist.

Speaking to this newspaper, minister Murnane O’Connor said she has witnessed a marked shift in recent times. “I’ve seen a huge change. I’ve been in politics a long time, so I would see a change. The majority of people are so good, but in the last few weeks we had threatening phone calls and voicemails left with this. Actually, one afternoon we had to close the office for a half day.” She described the calls and voicemails as “seriously threatening” and said gardaí had attended the office on several occasions as a result.

“We work very well with the Carlow gardaí, who have come regularly to the office. We also had a crime prevention officer in and we now have a whole new system in the office now, a buzz-in system,” she said.

“It’s not about me, it’s about my staff as well,” she explained of the need for secure entry.

The minister stressed that her approach to constituents has not changed. “My policy, and it has always been my ethos, is that the door is always open and will always be open for anyone. I’m always accessible to the people of Carlow and Kilkenny. It’s really important for me that that message gets out. But there has been a change. There’s no question about it.” “We still have the same office hours there and people are able to buzz to come in, but we did have to change how the office worked and how we operate,” she added.

The minister, who has spent nearly three decades in public life as a councillor, senator, TD and now minister, said it was the first time she had experienced anything of that kind. “I’m nearly 30 years in politics, so I do see that change and it’s the first time I’ve ever had these types of things happen.” She referenced the recent killing of former British MP Ann Widdecombe, who died last month in what UK counter-terror police have described as a targeted attack, as a reminder of the dangers now facing public representatives. “When you see what happened to Ann Widdecombe, you can never be complacent. We always have to be vigilant and we always have to be mindful.” Carlow Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne said he was “appalled” by the graffiti. “I think we have a great democracy where we’ve opened access to our TDs, senators and councillors,” he said. “By all means, people can debate the issues, but that kind of message is very sinister and very threatening.” Cllr Browne cautioned against careless language. “I think people need to be very careful of their use of language as well. Maybe they mightn’t realise … people might say something in jest, but when it's written down, it can take a different meaning.” Asked whether graffiti was a recurring problem for Carlow Co Council, he said it was a persistent drain on resources. “The council clean it up all the time. They’re, unfortunately, wasting money on this and shouldn’t have to be doing it.” Cllr Adrienne Wallace of People Before Profit also denounced the graffiti, telling The Nationalist: “I totally condemn this and absolutely no threats of violence are acceptable towards politicians.” A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána in Carlow said the graffiti constituted criminal damage, but did not amount to “incitement to hatred,” which has a specific and narrower meaning in Irish law. The offence applies where threatening material targets a group on the basis of characteristics including race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, membership of the Traveller community or sexual orientation. Being a TD or politician is not a protected characteristic under the legislation.

However, he stressed that criminal damage of this nature was “taken seriously.”