Gardaí investigate 'death threat' to TD after water protest comments
Gardaí are investigating a death threat to a Fine Gael TD following comments in which he compared water charge protesters to ISIS militants.
Tipperary North TD Noel Coonan compared water charge protestors to Islamic State militants and suggested that protestors in Dublin were "parasites" who were "living off country people".
After his comments, his Tipperary constituency office received a death threat, which is being investigated.
Deputy Coonan said the threat was made via a phone call to his constituency secretary.
"A female caller responded that he is dead: 'tell him that he is dead' and that 'you are dead too' then," he told Tipp FM.
"[My secretary] asked her to now if she could help her, what was this is all about - she presented a tirade of abuse at her then as well, including [the threat]".
During the Dáil debate on the new water charges regime in the Dáil today Deputy Coonan referred to "the so-called wealthy socialist party" led by "the Murph and company", a reference to newly-elected Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy, whose role in Saturday's protest in Jobstown has been criticised by Government politicians.
"I think that that needs to be nipped in the bud," he said.
"If not we are facing potentially what is an 'ISIS' situation… if those people are allowed to do what they are doing, God help this country."
Investigations are also continuing after four bomb and death threats were made against fellow Tipperary TD, Environment Minister Alan Kelly this week.
