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TD Kate O'Connell and Minister Regina Doherty RollingNews.ie

Twitter abuse: Fine Gael TDs call out senior party member who labelled women 'bitches'

Female members of the Fine Gael party have said comments made by one party member online are “unacceptable”.

SOCIAL PROTECTION MINISTER Regina Doherty has apologised to the Irish actor and writer Tara Flynn for online abuse she was subjected to by a senior Fine Gael party member.

At last night’s Fine Gael parliamentary meeting, TD Kate O’Connell distributed print outs of tweets sent by a member of the Fine Gael Executive Council, Barry Walsh.

The executive body takes core organisational decisions for the party and is elected at the party’s Ard Fheis.

The derogatory tweets have also been sent to a number of female politicians, referring to some as bitches.

At the end of the meeting O’Connell raised the issue of “nasty” online abuse one of its members was targeting women with.

Online abuse

She told her party colleagues she had been subjected to online abuse since a debate on the Eighth Amendment at the party’s national conference last weekend.

Walsh contributed to the debate on abortion on Saturday in which he said that he did not understand where the push for a referendum on the Eighth Amendment was coming from.

O’Connell has also written a formal letter of complaint to Fine Gael’s General Secretary Tom Curran.

Using strong words on RTÉ’S Sean O’Rourke Show this morning, Doherty said that as a ”mother and a woman” she can’t accept what Walsh has said.

In addition she said:

I would like to apologise to Tara Flynn on behalf of the Fine Gael party.

Flynn said on Twitter that she was grateful that O’Connell had stood up for women in her party and beyond, and thanked Doherty and other Fine Gael members for their actions.

Doherty said this is not just an internal matter for Fine Gael, stating that having someone target individuals on social media for having a different opinion speaks to a wider issue.

“This is not even close to normal behaviour,” she said.

‘Bile’

Dubbing his use of language as “bile” Doherty said she was not going to be quiet and pretend that Walsh represents the party that she loves.

Speaking on the same programme, Catherine Noone said she spoke to the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar about the member last night following the parliamentary party meeting.

Noone said she wanted to be careful with her words for fear of prejudicing any formal disciplinary action taken against Walsh, but said she agreed with Doherty.

She said this was not about men versus women – “it is about human decency”.

“This is not acceptable behaviour as a human being,” she added.

Dun Laoghaire TD Maria Bailey told Morning Ireland that she is 100% behind O’Connell.

“Social media either can be too quick to have a go at or use profound language and it’s not the place to do it… Kate was dead right.

“She was concerned about the profound language that is being used and the intimidation on social media with certain people. I absolutely support her on this and she was dead right on what she did last night. She did it in a very construction, productive manner in order to get results and solve a problem that we have,” said Bailey.

Minister Doherty said she expects Tom Curran, the party’s General Secretary, to deal with this matter “swiftly” and “professionally”.

Fine Gael party spokesperson confirmed to TheJournal.ie that a letter of complaint against a party member has been received.

This will be referred to the party’s Executive Council. The party will not be making any other comment at this time.

Attempts were made by TheJournal.ie to contact Barry Walsh but there was no response by the time of publication.

Read: ‘Emotional contributions’ about Fine Gael’s messaging on homelessness at party meeting>

Read: Woman who had a crisis pregnancy tells Fine Gael summit: ‘I wouldn’t wish it on anybody’>

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    Mute Jim Buckley Barrett
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    Mar 5th 2021, 4:54 PM

    We have an Irish citizen in China and very little reported considering he’s been there for two years, yet we’ve have numerous articles on this lady, strange!

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    Mute Jakie McLean
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    Mar 5th 2021, 7:01 PM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett: there are negotiations going on behind the scenes that may mean reporting is not possible as it may cause difficulties. I believe that was reported a few weeks ago.

    180
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    Mute Seán Ó Briain
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    Mar 5th 2021, 8:32 PM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett: The Journal have done 6 articles on his plight in the past 6 weeks, one no little than 2 days ago. He’s getting reporting, but as Jakie said – there’s probably a lot of work going on in the background to get him home quietly.

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    Mute RogersRabbit
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    Mar 5th 2021, 9:06 PM

    @Jakie McLean: Ah yes, act like everything is okay when it’s not. Some common ground we have with China

    19
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    Mute john s
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    Mar 5th 2021, 11:14 PM

    @Jakie McLean: behind the scenes for 2 years ? Irish and eu government should be ashamed.

    18
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    Mute D.B
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    Mar 6th 2021, 12:08 AM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett: yes, poor chap. we need to stick in to the chinese to get him out and do it f’ing now…..

    14
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    Mute Jim Buckley Barrett
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    Mar 6th 2021, 9:24 AM

    @Seán Ó Briain: 6 articles in 6 weeks, he’s been there for TWO YEARS

    8
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    Mute Sana Diwan
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    Mar 6th 2021, 10:54 AM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett: military intervened in international waters. They broke international law. Latifa’s case is should be talked about more as well!

    3
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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Mar 5th 2021, 7:27 PM

    Strange the Horse racing board in the UK stopped Elliott from bringing horses over, but haven’t stopped the Sheikhs horses running though. Why? Because he brings millions into the racing there. Not much morals now do they.

    301
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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Mar 5th 2021, 9:56 PM

    @Kevin O’Brien: Don’t you think Ireland does the same?

    38
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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Mar 5th 2021, 11:08 PM

    @Earth Traveller: No not really, when compared to him. He has massive operations in the UK (and around the world) with his Godolphin outfit that he owns. He spends millions on yearlings every year at Tattersalls sales, alone. Never mind the over 130 horses he has in training in the UK.

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Mar 5th 2021, 11:30 PM

    @Kevin O’Brien:

    Latest unpleasant news of the continuing harsh treatment of Sheikha Latifa, one of his thirty (30) children, should be the straw that broke the camel’s back, in terms of long overdue sanctions against a repeat offending father for a form of child cruelty by everyday Western values.

    Whilst the man is a large scale Owner, not a Trainer, he insists on major input/interference into his horses training programs, which caused an irreparable rift with the great Sir Henry Cecil when he trained his string during the 90’s.

    Nothing will ever get in the way of high volumes of lucre flowing freely into Blighty, as recent political developments there have confirmed.

    19
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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Mar 6th 2021, 12:07 AM

    @Rory J Leonard: Apologies, I didn’t mean he was training himself. Horses he has in yards over there, being trained for him. How he’s getting away with this beggar’s belief. They have absolutely laid into Gordon over there, but not a word about Sheikh Mohammed?

    17
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    Mute William Bryan
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    Mar 5th 2021, 3:42 PM

    Yes an we have Mary Robinson being played like a fiddel by her bestie Saudi Princess

    185
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    Mute Seán O'Loughlin
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    Mar 5th 2021, 4:17 PM

    Had. She knows she was played now.

    108
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    Mute Thinkingaboutmatters
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    Mar 5th 2021, 4:59 PM

    @William Bryan: she likely was happy to play along, with more money for boring speeches in the UAE. She couldn’t sell some rotten house and some papers to May CoCo for millions.

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    Mute John
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    Mar 5th 2021, 6:26 PM

    @Thinkingaboutmatters: Considering the father is allegedly trying to fabricate a story that Latifa has bipolar disorder in order to cover up the kidnapping, what do you suppose Mary should have done at that meeting? Assuming she had any idea about this story or the forces at work?

    Mary: “So tell me, Latifa, do you really have bipolar disorder, or are these guards around us holding you prisoner?

    Having a high profile person visit like this is clearly a cleverly fabricated cover, as far as I’m concerned. I suggest you watch Latifa’s videos

    28
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    Mute Thinkingaboutmatters
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    Mar 5th 2021, 10:22 PM

    @John: Mary Robinson knows enough of the world to know when something was off. Either she was foolish (unlikely) or she saw a new direction for her grift by speechifying in the Middle East to a grateful potentate. Money is her thing.

    34
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    Mute SmallbutMighty
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    Mar 6th 2021, 3:08 AM

    @Thinkingaboutmatters: really!!! if you had an awkward lunch with someone you were told was recovering from a bipolar episode but in the momet seemed content you would jump straight to she must have been kidnapped and is being held against her will?

    15
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    Mute Brian Burns
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    Mar 5th 2021, 6:06 PM

    Mary Robinson was just over with her said she told her “she’s grand”

    60
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    Mute D.B
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    Mar 6th 2021, 12:39 AM

    @Brian Burns: Mary should have dazzled them with her hairdo and got the princess out…..

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    Mute D.B
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    Mar 5th 2021, 4:19 PM

    & if she is isnt? what are they going to do about it…….

    57
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    Mute Ally Mc Culladgh
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    Mar 5th 2021, 4:22 PM

    @D.B: Well I would imagine they will first come out to condemn the unlawful killing, talk more, talk about sanctions, have countless UN meetings, more condemnation, more meetings to discuss the sanctions and then….??

    Look at Myanmar no sign of the UN getting involved

    118
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    Mute D.B
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    Mar 5th 2021, 4:58 PM

    @Ally Mc Culladgh: Good points…..the usual rhetoric will flow & nothing will be done….

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    Mute Ally Mc Culladgh
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    Mar 5th 2021, 5:28 PM

    @D.B: Look at this madness, they can’t even agree to issue a statement on what is happening in Myanmar

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55913947

    The United Nations Security Council met on Tuesday but failed to agree on a joint statement after China did not support it. China has the power of veto as one of five permanent members of the council.

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    Mute Joan Grennan
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    Mar 5th 2021, 5:47 PM

    What hope is there for ordinary females in that damn place when a princess can be held prisoner as she is .It wont stop Western powers hobnobbin with her Dad though .When it comes to a contest between human rights and staying in the good bks with autocrats ,dictators and so on we knows what wins through .

    91
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    Mute Atlas' burden
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    Mar 5th 2021, 9:49 PM

    @Joan Grennan: we can only hope she’s only held prisoner. At least there’s some hope of freedom. I sincerely hope she is still alive. There hasn’t been any proof of life.

    30
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    Mute Michael Mcloughlin
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    Mar 5th 2021, 4:32 PM

    Wheres the BHA now

    37
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    Mute Special_Ed
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    Mar 5th 2021, 4:57 PM

    Uh oh….. the UAE must not be playing along with the World Economic Forum / UN’s Reset

    21
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    Mute JongaFe
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    Mar 5th 2021, 9:28 PM

    Mary sent her a WhatsApp msg, says she’s grand!

    21
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    Mute andrew
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    Mar 5th 2021, 9:58 PM

    Hope she is not being mistreated.

    16
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    Mute D.B
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    Mar 6th 2021, 12:09 AM

    all these phone princess of makeyuppy royalty land that was once full of nomads but is now awash with oil rich cash…..nauseating watching the brits trip over themselves for a slice of the pie…..

    18
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    Mute Maria Quinn
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    Mar 6th 2021, 8:10 AM

    Who cares. UN Human Rights Office has done nothing about the invasion of Sahara by Morocco since the Spanish Province got their independence from Spain at the end of the facists dictatorship. Oh! True, also UN Human Rights Office did nothing to free Spain from 40 years of facists dictatorship, to free Spaniards from the oppression of a Hilter and na.zism allied

    UN has turned into a kind of socialite group

    6
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