Deirdre O Meara 
Gardaí were called to a pro-choice People Before Profit (PBP) stall in The Square, Tallaght, Dublin, today after a man threatened to slit the throat of TD Paul Murphy’s wife. The Dublin South West TD was present at the stall when the man approached and made the alleged threats. The incident occurred less than 24 hours after a video emerged of a woman harassing Murphy in Jobstown while he was canvassing for a children’s playground. Murphy’s family home has also been targeted by far-right protesters in recent weeks. Murphy and his party have been vocal in their support for asylum seekers, drawing the ire of far-right agitators.
Murphy said the man approached the PBP stall and threatened to slit his wife’s throat before the end of the week. “These are the people who claim to be ‘protecting women’,” Murphy said. Given the seriousness of the threats, people at the stall called the gardaí immediately and the man eventually left. Members of the party gave statements to gardaí when they arrived, and Murphy will make a formal complaint to gardaí in relation to the threats. He had left the area before gardaí arrived.
The PBP stall was a pro-choice stall in the West Dublin community. The party has been campaigning for women’s rights and the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of threats and harassment faced by politicians in Ireland.
Murphy’s family home has been targeted by far-right protesters in recent weeks. In late April, Murphy said, “Far right protesting outside our home right now. We were literally preparing to give our newborn baby a bath.” Murphy and his party have been vocal in their support for asylum seekers and have drawn the ire of far-right agitators in recent months.
Murphy is not the only politician to experience a protest outside his family home in recent years. Protesters have convened outside the homes of Stephen Donnelly, Simon Harris and Leo Varadkar. The issue of politicians’ safety has been raised in recent years, with calls for increased security measures for elected officials.
The incident also comes less than a week before the Irish general election, which takes place on 8 February. The issue of political safety has been a key issue in the election campaign, with many candidates reporting incidents of harassment and intimidation. The safety of politicians and their families is a crucial issue that must be addressed by the new government.
In conclusion, the threats made against TD Paul Murphy’s wife at a pro-choice PBP stall in Tallaght highlight the ongoing issue of threats and harassment faced by politicians in Ireland. Murphy’s family home has also been targeted by far-right protesters in recent weeks. The incident comes less than a week before the Irish general election, which has seen many candidates report incidents of harassment and intimidation. The safety of politicians and their families is a crucial issue that must be addressed by the new government.
