A senator has become the latest female politician to speak out about her stalking hell, revealing she was harassed for two years by a man who telephoned 95 times in one day.
Sharon Keogan who represents East Meath and Ashbourne also had her office petrol bombed by drug dealers, received death threats and had Garda protection for three months. And last night, as she slammed the growing attacks and abuse of Irish politicians, she vowed: “No one is going to shut me up.”
The stalker was never charged because he was using someone else’s phone but he was eventually tracked down and warned off by gardai. He used to ring all her friends if he couldn’t get her.
Read more: UCD apologises to Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain who was harassed by colleague
The petrol bomb attack occurred in 2020 after she spoke out about the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods, 17, in nearby Drogheda and the fallout from the drug-related feud. She added: “We have been losing the battle against drugs in this country for years. We don’t have enough Garda boots on the ground.
"I see children as young as nine or 10 years of age being recruited by the drug dealers and going around delivering drugs door-to-door like little pizza delivery men. The fallout from drugs once people get involved is devastating.
“I know of a respectable family who had to sell their house to pay off one of their children’s drug debt. The drug gangs are pursuing parents for drug debts all over the country.
“The drug lords targeted me because I had the courage to speak out. I was scared and I was nervous but they weren’t going to stop me." The mum-of-two also told how people are “afraid to speak out on immigration in case they are branded a racist”.
She added: “I have been branded a far right politician when I am anything but I don’t have a racist bone in my body. I am prepared to speak out about the problems with issues like immigration and putting 100 people from Ukraine or other countries into rural areas without doing the preparatory work on the ground.
“No one has done more to help the Ukrainian people around this area than me. However, I am a strong woman and I believe in free speech. Hate on the internet is just words and words don’t bother me.
“However, I do believe a law should be brought in to ban anonymous accounts which are being deliberately used to abuse people.”
Senator Keogan said it is tough being a politician in Ireland at the moment for men and women. She added: “Politics is not for the faint-hearted you need to be tough. You have to speak your mind and stand up for what you believe in.”
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