Editorial: State must again face down threats to our democracy

Billy Fox was visiting the home of his fiancee, Marjorie Coulson, when he was stopped by armed men. He ran towards the house and was shot twice in the back. The 35-year-old died in a field and his body was not found until the following day.

The Coulsons were an innocent Protestant family, but the Provisional IRA wrongly claimed that UVF arms were stored at their farmhouse. But it was also suggested the timing of the raid on the house was deliberate, as Billy Fox was known to visit the home on a Monday.

Those events of March 11, 1974, at Tircooney, near Clones, Co Monaghan, carry some significance for our democracy. A Fine Gael senator and former TD, Billy Fox was the only member of the Oireachtas to be assassinated during the Troubles.

Senator Billy Fox Memorial Park is located in Bawn, Co Monaghan, on the Cavan/Monaghan border. The park consists mainly of old woodland and a few open areas of lawn. The park has natural walkways and a river running through it, with a new bridge crossing at one point. There is a memorial plaque to Mr Fox on a stone outcrop in the park next to the river.

Taoiseach Simon Harris was present yesterday for the 50th anniversary commemoration of the late senator. It was an opportune time for the Taoiseach to address the issue of threats to politicians.

Last week, Justice Minister Helen McEntee’s husband and children were forced to evacuate their home after gardaí were alerted to a bomb threat. The previous week, Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s home was targeted by masked protesters who attached banners to the railings of the house.

The homes of Mr Harris, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and other politicians have also been subjected to protests. A number of cases have gone through the courts, with prosecutions being brought against individuals who have targeted sitting politicians for abuse, threats and intimidation.

The Taoiseach warns politics has been become “more dangerous” in recent years and the “full measure of the law” will be used to punish far-right thugs who target the homes of politicians.

“Too often have we seen our country’s elected representatives afraid of what might happen to them or their families,” he said. “We know how this story ends. We have had too many warnings, and we need to take them seriously before the unthinkable happens.”

The State has been faced with the threat of thugs who seek to undermine our democracy before, both in the aftermath of the Civil War and during the Troubles, and that challenge has been met. The current wave of intimidation of politicians, be it online or in person, is corrosive as it puts off others from seeking to represent their communities by going for election.

The right to peaceful protest and balanced debate is not undermined by ensuring extremists are punished for their behaviour. Attacks on politicians are an attack on our society and must not be allowed.

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