Sinister abuse of migrant candidates will never be tolerated – English

Several Fine Gael candidates who come from migrant backgrounds have suffered a chilling level of threats and racism, the party’s director of elections has said.

Deputy Damien English said he was disgusted by what his fellow party colleagues were having to endure on the campaign trail over recent weeks.

He said the increasing abuse and attacks on migrant candidates running in elections around the country should shock and repulse every right-minded citizen.

Fine Gael Director of Elections for the Local Elections, Damien English said that a number of the party’s migrant candidates, many of whom are also first-time candidates, have been subjected to abuse, intimidation and harassment for no reason other than their race, gender or ethnicity.

“This is appalling and must be called out for what it is – wrong, sexist and racist – and it will never be tolerated by Fine Gael, or indeed anyone who values democracy or an Ireland where everyone’s rights are valued and upheld.”

Sixteen of Fine Gael’s 339 candidates come from migrant backgrounds. At the 2019 local elections, Fine Gael returned the most number of elected councillors from migrant backgrounds – four.

Deputy English said nearly all of the party’s candidates from a migrant background have been targeted. It includes:

• Being threatened and intimidated while canvassing resulting in complaints being made to An Garda Síochána
• Sustained harassment online from far-right social media accounts some based in the UK and US
• Family members and homes targeted
• Removing and/or defacing election posters

“We are deeply concerned by the increased targeting of local election candidates both online and in-person by individuals intent on spreading division and hatred.

“A number of Fine Gael’s migrant candidates have had their posters removed, damaged or defaced, been shouted at in public, followed and videoed on mobile phones.

“Some candidates have been told to ‘f**k off back where you came from” while they canvass or just go about their daily business. While other candidates have also experienced fake social media accounts being set up to discredit them.

“Family members have been threatened, children have been identified in school and harassed, homes of migrant candidates have been targeted and eggs thrown at them.

“All of this is utterly reprehensible and we cannot accept that this is how modern Ireland has evolved,” Deputy English said.

“Other elected councillors have had their posters defaced and the suspicion is because they supported refugees fleeing war.

“Public and political discourse in Ireland has reached a very serious low. This insidious abuse of politicians and people in public life is a magnification of the day-to-day discriminations and harms that are creeping into our society and we have got to take heed of this now, call it out and take action.

“We must stand up for the fundamentals we believe in, both as individuals and communities.

“Our political leaders and all of us must unite against the threats of political violence to our democracy. Together, we must ensure that our democratic processes are safe, inclusive, and reflective of our values.”