*Cllr Mary Howard (FG). Photograph: John O’Neill.
FINE GAEL female elected representatives including Cllr Mary Howard (FG) have reported harassment to An Garda Síochána after receiving “disturbing” phone calls this week.
Up to thirty female Fine Gael councillors have received phone calls since Sunday night by a male individual. No threats were made to any of the women but the conversation has been described as “totally and wholly inappropriate”. It is understood the same man has been behind the calls.
On Tuesday evening, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) was watering the plants in her garden in Ennis when she received a call “from a very sick individual”.
After speaking with the man, the former Mayor of Ennis hung up the phone but then received an abundance of follow-up calls from the same unknown number which she did not answer. She reported the matter to An Garda Síochána on Wednesday morning.
Female councillors who were subject to the phonecalls are working together to tackle the matter with Fine Gael headquarters now looking into the matter along with An Garda Síochána.
On what was said over the phone, Cllr Howard commented, “the conversation was totally and wholly inappropriate”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Howard stated, “As an elected councillor I believe engaging with members of public is one of most important parts of my role, I welcome calls, emails, messages from constituents seeking assistance or wishing to discuss issues affecting our community, however I am deeply disappointed to have received a number of inappropriate phone calls. I believe no elected representative should have to tolerate harassment for carrying out their duties. It is particularly concerning that these calls are targeting Fine Gale female councillors. Regardless of political affiliation, gender or background, every public representative deserves to be treated with respect and should be able to serve community without fear of intimidation or abuse”.
She continued, “This behaviour has no place in our democracy, robust debate and differing political opinions are both welcome and necessary, however this type of harassment crosses a clear line and risks discouraging people particularly women from entering public life. I remain fully committed to representing the people of Clare with professionalism, integrity and respect. I will not allow the actions from a small number of individuals to deter me from carrying out my duties, I’d also encourage anyone who experiences harassment in public life to report it to the appropriate channels. We must all work together to ensure politics remains a place where people can work together safely and without fear”.
Politicians have unfortunately become accustomed to online abuse but receiving a phone call of this nature shook Cllr Howard. “In my very early days in politics I got peculiar phonecalls but nothing like this and nothing as disturbing as this”.
“This crossed a line, they thought it was appropriate to phone me as opposed to being a faceless wonder on social media,” she stated. Cllr Howard admitted she does not engage with individuals operating fake accounts or hiding behind pseudonyms online. “When someone phones you it is a different level, it is a violation, it was in the evening time and you get this horrendous phone call”.
