Leinster House usher suspended after far-right anti-migrant posts online
An usher has been suspended from Leinster House as an investigation takes place into his online activity, including anti-migrant and far-right posts on social media.
An Oireachtas spokeswoman said today, on foot of detailed questions from the Irish Independent: “As you will appreciate, we do not comment on staff or security matters.”
The man was escorted off the Leinster House campus at 5pm yesterday and told not to come back.
The Irish Independent understands that he has now been suspended on full pay.
It is understood he had been spoken to by authorities about his tweets and posts on more than one occasion, but did not modify his behaviour.
He also attended a far-right protest in the past week.
The State-paid attendant at Leinster House had duties that on occasion left him within yards of Taoiseach Simon Harris - as could also have been the case with foreign VIPs.
He has been publicising far-right anti-migrant rants online, using a picture of himself, in his official uniform, apparently taken at Leinster House.
The Irish Independent invited the Oireachtas to make a comprehensive statement for publication on what actions had been taken in this matter, and what steps the authorities proposed to take.
The usher was escorted from Leinster House and his security clearance revoked within hours of the Irish Independent contact to the Oireachtas on Monday.
It comes after Taoiseach Simon Harris has been targeted at his home by a masked right-wing mob, and expressed concern for his own and his family's safety.
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