Taoiseach blasts 'masked' protesters for demonstration at Roderic O'Gorman's home

Taoiseach Simon Harris blasted the “masked” protesters who staged a demonstration outside Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s house on Thursday describing it as “extraordinarily chilling, disturbing and quite frankly disgusting”.

The Fine Gael leader made the comments after banners were tied outside the Green Party minister’s west Dublin home urging him to “close the borders”.

Another said, “Roderic O’Gorman hates children”.

Addressing the situation, Mr Harris said: “I spoke to Minister O’Gorman about this situation this morning, I am utterly horrified to see it.

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“We all recognise the right to protest in a democracy but to see masked people gathering outside a family home is extraordinarily chilling, disturbing and, quite frankly, disgusting.”

When contacted, Gardai said they maintained a presence until the group dispersed, but stressed they don’t comment on the security arrangements of any individual or group.

Taoiseach Harris added: “I know gardai have to assess these situations and I don’t wish to interfere in that however I feel deeply uncomfortable this situation was allowed to happen outside of any person’s home, public figure or otherwise.

“I am reluctant to rush to blame the gardai in these situations as they operate in a difficult, dynamic environment in my experience – also in a personal capacity and as Taoiseach – is gardai take these situations very seriously.

“There are clear laws in the case of what can and what can’t happen.”

refugees

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she had spoken to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in relation to the incident.

In a statement, she said O’Gorman’s “privacy and property have been violated in a disgusting and shocking manner”.

She added: “This cannot be tolerated.”

Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys said it was “unacceptable” and said she considers it a “direct attack on our democracy”.

Social media footage of the incident showed a number of people outside O’Gorman’s house, some of whom were wearing balaclavas.

It comes as Labour’s justice spokesperson Aodhan O’Riordan said the targeting of politicians needs to stop.

Speaking on Newstalk, he said “This sort of thing of going to individuals’ houses, if it is a politician’s home today it could be a teacher’s tomorrow or gardaí the day after.

“It could be anyone with influence in a community or with real authority.

“Those involved in this need to step back, but those who whip this stuff up need to reflect on what they are saying and the impact it is having.”

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