Kilkenny councillor speaks out: 'I was told I was being watched'
Cllr Stephanie Doheny says that harassment of female councillors must have "harder consequences"
Sinn Féin councillor Stephanie Doheny has said she and 69 other female councillors across the country have been receiving harassing calls from an unknown number, describing one late-night call as sexual and threatening.
Speaking about her experience, Cllr Doheny said: “Recently myself and 69 other female councillors throughout the country have been receiving calls from an unknown number.
“I usually don’t answer unknown numbers but I stupidly answered late at night, the man started talking sexually and inappropriately and stated that I was being watched.
"The calls kept coming in over the past week which I didn’t answer.”
She said the harassment risks discouraging women from entering politics.
"We are always trying to encourage more young women into politics and public life but when this stuff happens it turns people off. This wouldn’t be allowed in an office or any other workplace.
Calling for stronger action against those responsible for harassing elected representatives, she added: "I have two small kids, we need to see harder consequences for people who harass politicians either online or by calls, emails etc especially when it’s any sort of sexual online harassment!
"I won’t be answering any unknown numbers for the foreseeable so if my constituents contact me just to make sure your number is showing."