Editorial: Brazen attack on Kilkenny politician's home must not go unpunished

The disgraceful attack on the home of one of our local elected representatives in recent days is a sinister development indeed.

As the victim — local councillor Eugene McGuinness — says, it amounts to attack on democracy. That is not sensationalism — it is an extremely serious matter that a politician has been subject to this intimidation by violent thugs.

The shocking and frightening incident marks an escalation in the kinds of abuse to which our representatives are often subjected. It is undoubtedly more serious than a bag of cow manure flung at a protest.

In this week’s paper on pages 16 and 17, you can read about the appalling abuse local councillors get, both in-person and online from keyboard warriors. Some of the personal experiences are quite disturbing.

With a reputation for speaking his mind, Cllr McGuinness had in recent days called for respectful behaviour in a cemetery, and for the law to be upheld and enforced.

Our politicians have a job to do and it is often not an easy one. It takes courage to speak out and make a stand on issues, particularly if it is sensitive, or not popular with everyone. Not least if it involves someone who may be capable of violence.

It seems there will always be a small group of people who behave with zero regard for the rest of the local community, and apparently, little fear of the law.

The attack on the home of a politician also sends a message to all of our public representatives: 'Do this or speak out about that, and this is what you’ll get'. It has the potential to have a chilling effect on what people are willing to say in the council chambers and in local media — institutions of democracy and civil society.

And, the question can’t be too far from the thoughts of anyone reading the coverage in recent days: If the criminals who carried out this attack are this brazen, who knows where they will draw the line? The full rigour of the law must be brought to bear on those responsible for this heinous act.