Poison pen letter leads to party resignation

waterford | politics / elections | news report

Friday February 13, 2004 14:47

by pasionaria

waterford

Charlie Haughey's ghost seems to live on.

A PROMINENT member of Fianna Fail in Stradbally resigned from the party after being questioned by gardai regarding the alleged sending of a threatening letter to an elderly couple in the area.

MY QUESTION. WHY DIDNT THE NATIONAL MEDIA REPORT THIS???

Poison pen letter leads to party resignation

A PROMINENT member of Fianna Fail in Stradbally resigned from the party after being questioned by gardai regarding the alleged sending of a threatening letter to an elderly couple in the area.

It’s understood that a file is being send to the Director of Public Prosecutions and that legal action, under the Post Office Amendment Act, will be taken against the man who, although a long time member of the Stradbally Cumann, has never been publicly engaged in politics.

If the matter was heard in the District Court, the maximum penalty which could be applied on conviction would be a fine of €800 and or twelve months in jail.

If however, it went on indictment to the Circuit Court, the maximum fine which could be imposed would be €50,000 and or five years in jail.

The letter was sent to an elderly couple in Stradbally on January 22 and its contents related primarily to well known Waterford News & Star columnist, environmental activist and local election candidate, Róisín O’Shea.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star yesterday, Róisín O’Shea said that in an attempt to intimidate the elderly couple into stepping away from her election campaign, it contained a threat that the IRA would kill them. It was also alleged to contained “sectarian bigotry” directed at Ms. O’Shea and her husband.

“One of the comments was - get out while the going is still placid,” she added. Roisin O’Shea said yesterday (Tuesday) that her friends were terrified by the letter, which was “very harsh” and took it to the garda station in Tramore.

Supt. Jerry Lynch, meanwhile, has confirmed that an investigation is underway and that a file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. She said the identity of the person behind it was only realised after the hand writing was compared with another letter the environmentalist received just weeks earlier.

The writer of this letter was angry with the Róisín O’Shea over an issue regarding planning permission. A third letter containing the man’s hand-writing confirmed to gardai who was responsible.

Cllr. Pat Daly, Director of Organisation for Fianna Fail in the Waterford Constituency, confirmed that a letter of resignation had been received and accepted. He refused, however, to comment on the identity of the member who had resigned. He added that no member of Fianna Fail would or could condone threats to anyone in any shape or form.