Mayo Senator advised to install CCTV at home

A Mayo Senator who was advised to install CCTV cameras outside his Ballina home has said the security feature is an 'unfortunate reality of politics at the moment'.

Ballina-based Fine Gael Senator and former county councillor Mark Duffy has explained that he was advised by the Garda Crime Prevention Officer to install CCTV cameras outside his home following a number of instances which occured outside.

Senator Duffy availed of a Mayo County Council security allowance of €1,012.62 in 2024 to fund 50 percent of the security systems installation.

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Speaking to The Mayo News, Senator Duffy said that following instances which took place outside his home he was advised to install the system for his and his family's safety.

“After a recommendation by the Crime Prevention Officer of An Garda Siochána, following multiple incidents at my home I took the advice of installing CCTV cameras to improve safety and security,” he explained.

Online commentary

Senator Duffy has been the focus of online commentary by some members of anti-immigration groups and individuals and he claims that videos about him have been made outside his home on a regular basis and posted online. He said there have been a number of other security instances which led to him taking the decision to install extra security.

“It is the unfortunate reality of politics at the moment. It is a privileged position to be in politics but unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation and disinformation spread online that is not challenged or checked and it creates a toxic environment. It is a reality and it [installing CCTV] was an unfortunate necessity with politics at the moment. It is security for me and my family,” he added.

Senator Duffy was first elected as an Independent councillor in the Ballina Municipal District in 2019 and was reelected in 2024. He joined Fine Gael last October and ran as a General Election candidate for the party but failed to get elected in November's General Election.

However, he succeeded in being elected to Seanad Éireann and his seat on Mayo County Council was taken by his sister Marie-Therese Duffy who also recently joined Fine Gael.

Yearly payments revealed

Senator Duffy was one of 35 elected members of Mayo County Council to avail of over €1.6 million in payments throughout 2024, with two retiring councillors each receiving over €90,000 in gratuities.

Mayo County Council announced that payments to elected members in 2024 totalled €1,618,675.61, with the five councillors who retired or failed to get elected in last year's Local Elections receiving gratuities.

Former Independent councillor Seamus Weir who retired after 25 years in local government received the most in 2024 with a total payment of €119,218.72 which included a €90,292.13 gratuities payment.

Former Ballyhaunis-based Fine Gael councillor John Cribbin who also retired after 25 years received €114,897.08 which also included a €90,292.13 gratuities payment.

The three former councillors who failed to get re-elected in the 2024 Local Elections also received gratuities.

Former Claremorris-based Fine Gael councillor Tom Connolly, who was first elected in 2004, received €89,664 after losing his seat while former Independent councillor Christy Hyland from Westport received €50,601.82 and former Fianna Fáil councillor from Castlebar Martin McLoughlin received €37,020.18.

The payments also reveal that a total of €887,966.44 in remuneration payments were paid to the elected members with the majority of councillors receiving a remuneration payment of €29,719.16.

A total of €140,049.44 in members allowance was paid out in 2024 with the two Erris-based councillors Seán Carey and Gerry Coyle receiving €7,999.32 and €7,787.86 respectively which was the most paid to individual councillors.

Of the councillors who served a full 12 months in 2024, six councillors – Donna Sheridan, Blackie Gavin, Ger Deere, Jarlath Munnelly, Michael Kilcoyne and Cyril Bourke - received €3,318.86 in members allowance which was the lowest payment.

A total of €88,931.51 was paid to the Cathaoirleach and Leas Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council and the four municipal districts in 2024.

Crossmolina-based councillor Michael Loftus, who was Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council for the first six months of the year and later became Cathaoirleach of the Ballina Municipal District, received the most with €32,506.85 in Cathaoirleach allowances.

Bonniconlon-based Fine Gael councillor John O'Hara, who is the current Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, received €15,000 in allowances for the first six months of his term in 2024.

A total of €70,909.93 was also paid to elected members for expenses for travelling to conference training in Ireland while €9,818.71 was paid for expenses for travelling abroad.