A former Clare election candidate claims she feared for her life after becoming the target of abuse while canvassing.
It follows the publication of a new survey, which has revealed that almost half of local election candidates, and six in 10 of those who ran for the general election, experienced violent or threatening behaviour online during their campaign.
Ireland’s media regulator Coimisiún na Meán conducted the survey of 66 general election candidates and 226 local election candidates, which equates to roughly 10% of those who stood for election.
Among the findings were that 48% of local election respondents and 59% of general election respondents said they experienced “offensive, abusive or hateful behaviour; violent or intimidating communications; or impersonation online”.
These instances of abuse, respondents said, included false information intended to damage reputation, hurtful or degrading comments, gender-based slurs and racist comments.
Additionally, 24% of local election respondents and 21% of general election respondents who experienced abuse received “online threats to kill or cause serious harm to them” during their campaign.
Ennis resident Amanda Major ran as an Independent candidate in the 2024 local and general elections.
She was the subject of verbal and online abuse in May of last year when a video of her putting up campaign posters, in which a woman can be heard making race-related comments, was posted on social media.
Amanda claims she had genuine concerns for her personal safety at the time.
Coimisiún na Meán says the findings show that those looking to be elected are now facing “the very real human impact of harmful, abusive and at times threatening content”.
It’s also stated that these conditions could result in “potential consequences for political participation and the diversity of democratic representation”.
Newmarket-on-Fergus Fianna Fáil Councillor David Griffin says the relevant authorities must take these instances of abuse seriously, so people aren’t deterred from running for political office in the future.
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