A man who targeted the city centre office of election candidate Malachy Steenson was arrested Wednesday evening after allegedly making threats against Mr Steenson.
The candidate for both a MEP seat and the North Inner City Council said that he was on the canvass nearby and was told that the man had come to the office in North Strand and banged on the door, threatening the occupants and shouting he was there to kill Malachy Steenson.
Mr Steenson is a well-known campaigner on the issue of immigration and has led protests against the opening of an asylum centre in East Wall and several large marches opposing the government’s migration policy.
Mr Steenson said he believed the election on June 7th was a pivotal one for the country, and that some agitators believed they could target candidates because they were “standing up for the Irish people”. He said that he was standing on the record of the work he had done in the community.
Yesterday, another MEP candidate, Niall Boylan said that he wanted to wish Mr Steenson well after what he described as a “serious threat to his life and family.” He said it was unacceptable that democracy was being attacked.
Can I wish one of my political opponents and regular guest on my podcast and radio show @MalachySteenson well after what was a very traumatic event yesterday and a serious threat to his life and family. Democracy is being attacked all over the world and it’s unacceptable. I’m…
— Niall Boylan (@Niall_Boylan) May 16, 2024
Wednesday’s arrest came after another candidate in a different constituency said she had been attacked last week by a man who left her and her husband fearing for her life.
Independent Fingal councillor Tania Doyle said she was putting up posters for her campaign when they were accosted by a man who asked her about her position on immigration.
“I’ve never encountered such anger, such aggression in all my life. It’s hard to take it in to be honest. I’ve never been in a situation like that, absolutely never,” she said.
She said the man accused her of being “part of the establishment” and, as he became more aggressive her husband moved between them.
“All hell broke out at that stage,” Ms Doyle said. She shared photos of the bruises the couple were left with and said that they feared for their lives, thinking at one point: “We’re not gonna come out of this”.
“It’s frightening, absolutely frightening,” she said.