Water protestors ‘message’ from Taoiseach’s late mother ‘a low blow’
A banner bearing a very personal attack on An Taoiseach during his visit to the MacGill Summer School has been criticised
Edwin McGreal
A close friend of Taoiseach Enda Kenny has criticised the personal attack water protestors delivered to the Taoiseach during his visit to Glenties in Donegal on Friday evening.
Mr Kenny was speaking at the MacGill Summer School and upon arrival was greeted by a banner from the Donegal Water Warriors group.
It read: “Kenny a message for you, from guess who?? Dear Enda, I lie here in my grave, restless, distraught, in tears and despair as I unable [sic] to stop you rob, cheat and lie to the Irish people. Please stop before it [sic] too late so I can RIP. Your Mother. Bye.”
Cllr Cyril Burke, a Fine Gael county councillor for the Castlebar area and a close friend of Mr Kenny’s, described the banner as ‘shocking’.
“Politicians, no matter what party, don’t deserve that kind of abuse,” Cllr Burke told The Mayo News. “To carry a banner with a quote from an individual’s deceased parent is beyond belief. For anyone to stoop so low to get their message out is crazy. There are other ways to get your message out.
“There are many different ways to vent, including the ballot box. It really was a low blow. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who were disgusted by it.
“Politicians have a difficult job to do and they do things in the best interest of the country that are not always popular. It would be easy to do if all you ever did was make popular decisions. We need to develop our water services and that’s why Irish Water is so important,” added Cllr Burke.
One member of the Donegal Water Warriors group, Annmarie Patten, defended the message.
“I don’t feel it is too personal, I’m sure his mother is turning in her grave,” she told The Irish Independent.
People before profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett was also critical of the nature of the protest.
“I think it’s very inappropriate to personalise things in that sort of way. I think people are right to protest about issues and keep it away from personal or family matters.”