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WEB ABUSE UNJUSTIFIABLE [Eire Region] [Sunday Mirror (England)]
[June 01, 2014]

WEB ABUSE UNJUSTIFIABLE [Eire Region] [Sunday Mirror (England)]


(Sunday Mirror (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ANYONE who has the guts to put themselves up for election has my admiration.

Politics is a dirty, cut-throat business that is not for the faint-hearted.

Despite their best efforts it is hard for politicians to please all of the people all of the time. But that is the job they have signed up for and if they can't take disapproval then they need to look for a different source of employment.



Criticism is one thing though - death threats and vile abuse is another.

Senator Lorraine Higgins' claims she was threatened by an internet troll are extremely disturbing. Ms Higgins, who failed to win a seat in the European Parliament, was told she would be "hatcheted in the face".


According to the Labour politician, the death threat followed weeks of horrendous online abuse. Gardai are THREATENED: investigating and hopefully the person responsible will be traced and appropriate action will be taken.

People are entitled to their point of view but they cannot be allowed to intimidate, threaten and abuse election candidates or representatives via social networking sites. That is crossing the line. It puts our democracy in jeopardy.

The internet can be a nasty place. With very little censorship and control it enables faceless and nameless people to dish out vicious, vindictive slurs and threaten the lives of the targeted victims.

It is a breeding ground for bullies. If any of these trolls are found to be members of any political party they should be expelled immediately.

Remember that the tragic suicide of Meath TD Shane McEntee was linked to abuse he received online.

Lorraine Higgins It needs to be taken very seriously.

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