logo
Aontú councillor says he's ‘not intimidated' following third attack on home

Aontú councillor says he's ‘not intimidated' following third attack on home

Sunday World2 days ago
'This is the third time someone has violated my home. First my jeep was covered in eggs, then someone defecated on my property, and now this'
An Aontú councillor has said he is not intimidated following a third attack on his home in Meath.
Trim councillor David Boyne took to social media to condemn a 'fresh act of vandalism' against his home after the front window of his property was smashed in the early hours of Sunday morning.
'This is the third time someone has violated my home. First my jeep was covered in eggs, then someone defecated on my property, and now this,' he said.
'I believe this could be the work of extreme left-wing groups who have targeted me before.'
'I have heard of other councillors being hassled. I've been accused of being a fascist and a racist, and I am sometimes publicly accosted by ill-informed people, but this is a new low. This is a criminal act.'
Cllr Dave Boyne pictured beside the shattered remains of his front window. Photo: Cllr Dave Boyne/Facebook.
Expressing concern for his family, Cllr Boyne said: 'I feel sorry for my wife and five kids, having to face the trauma of these petty, feeble-minded attacks. But I am not intimidated. Whoever they are, they're too cowardly to meet me face-to-face. I take it all as a compliment — obviously Aontú is doing something right.'
Aontú has called on authorities to take political intimidation seriously and ensure that 'all public representatives can carry out their duties free from harassment or violence.'
Meanwhile Cllr Boyne said he acknowledges public frustration with the state of politics but insisted 'that anger is being misdirected'.
'I know people are frustrated — I am too. But it's Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael they should be taking their anger out on. They're the ones in power. Aontú is the opposition, working to right the wrongs FF/FG are inflicting on the Irish people. We are the only party holding them to account. People have to fight back — and we have a weapon: votes,' Cllr Boyne added.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Letters: Let's keep fingers crossed that Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin will prove fruitful
Letters: Let's keep fingers crossed that Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin will prove fruitful

Irish Independent

time6 minutes ago

  • Irish Independent

Letters: Let's keep fingers crossed that Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin will prove fruitful

With the exception of Hungary, all the EU leaders backed the statement, saying that meaningful nego­tiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or a reduction of hostilities. US president Donald Trump is due to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska tomorrow to discuss bringing an end to the war. As things stand, there's no invita­tion for the country the Russian leader invaded, nor for the continent it sits in. It would be true to say that European allies of Ukraine have been burnt before regarding Russian ceasefires. In the past, Russia has made promises that haven't been honoured. I would imagine that the EU will especially be anxious about any possible demands by Russia that Ukraine gives up its quest to join Nato or the EU. One has to be concerned that the outcome of tomorrow's meeting could leave the people of Ukraine extremely unhappy. Of course, the meeting could fall apart without and progress or breakthrough. Perish the thought. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary As Gazan people continue to suffer, at what point are we going to say 'No more'? I fully agree with your editorial that the intentional assassination of journalists in Gaza was intended to stifle the truth in the middle of the genocide and starvation ('Israel's attempt to silence journalists must be condemned', August 12). Journalists, health-care personnel, children, women, the sick, the infirm and the disabled, along with others, have paid far too high a price in this senseless war. They have witnessed unimaginable death, destruction and famine. Sadly, the international community has become desensitised to images of demolished hospitals, mutilated bodies, weeping women and starving children. When will we say 'No more' to these horrors of war? Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob, London Vile attacks on our Indian neighbours must not be tolerated in Irish society The abhorrent hate crimes perpetrat­ed against members of the Indian community in Ireland violate our nation's values of inclusion and equality. They endanger a community that has given so much to our country through its contributions to health care and the economy. These hate crimes become even more abhorrent when you consider the powerful historical ties between our nations, something that has been highlighted recently by politicians and other influential figures and must continue to be propagated to help foster tolerance in those who support xenophobia. When you read about our histories, you realise there are potent parallels to be found. To those Irish people who would defend the ill-treatment of the Indian community, there are questions that I feel they must strongly consider. Did you know Ireland and India have a shared history of colonialism? Did you know we have a historical longing for self-determination and nationhood? Did you know we have a shared trauma of famine, conflict and partition within our nations? Did you know that during the Irish Famine of the 1840s, wealthy Hindus, princes and those of lesser financial means donated thousands of pounds to relief efforts for our ancestors? Wouldn't all of this justify a strong bond and affinity between our people, and not the bigotry manifested in the recent hate crimes? I hope this cancer in our society can be cured and that the Indian community in Ireland will feel welcomed and respected. Tadhg Mulvey, Co Meath Ireland should look to its history to learn how to assimilate immigrants As an Irish immigrant in Canada, I have watched from afar how Ireland deals with the issue of racism. Without going into details Ireland needs to look inward. It is long forgotten that it took about 12 generations (1200 to 1450) for the Normans and Gaels to assimilate, but eventually we all became one happy race. Hopefully with that behind us, the Irish can do better. Gerard Walsh, Port Elgin, Ontario Pesky minor headaches that build up to an all-out war as I go about my life Small annoyances have a knack for stealing our patience, especially after a long day. The fly that landed on my head last night while I was trying to sleep ranks high, as does the classic sock that stubbornly slips down inside the shoe. There's the phone screen that refuses to unlock on the first try, traffic lights turning red just as you approach and the dreaded single hair lurking in your dinner. Then there's public wifi that fails every five minutes, the last stubborn blob of toothpaste that won't come out and the remote control dying mid-show. Add to that the loud chewing in a quiet auditorium, misplaced keys when you're already late and the beer that foams over before you've even poured a proper glass. And, in solidarity with Tom Gilsenan, there's the state-service queue where you are always 12th in line (Letters, August 13). He called a public body at 1.30pm and again at 4pm, still stuck behind the same 11th caller who must have been reciting his or her memoirs. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has these issues, and I'm equally sure there are others I haven't listed. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Gaeltacht colleges keep Irish language alive and are integral to education Áine Ní Bhreisleáin writes about the challenges facing Irish colleges in the Gaeltacht regions, where last year 25,480 students attended courses ('Exodus of mná tí could lead to end of Gaeltacht tradition for Irish teens', Irish Independent, August 12). Not only does an influx of students contribute to the economies of these regions, but the students themselves immerse themselves in an environment where Irish is the everyday language of the ordinary people living there. For most students this is the only time during their school years when they experience our native language outside of school. The 'coláistí samhraidh' need greater supports because their importance in fostering a 'grá don teanga' in the next generation cannot be over-estimated,

Ireland must fix infrastructure gaps urgently to secure foreign direct investment
Ireland must fix infrastructure gaps urgently to secure foreign direct investment

Irish Examiner

time6 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

Ireland must fix infrastructure gaps urgently to secure foreign direct investment

Ireland must address infrastructure gaps with 'great urgency' if it is to successfully attract and grow foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country particularly in light of the new tariff regime coming out of the US, the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland has warned. In its pre-budget submission, the Chamber makes a number of recommendations for the Government to focus in order to make the country a more appealing location for investment. Chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland Paul Sweetman said with the current 'challenging environment' with tariffs, prompted by US president Donald Trump, competition for investment and talent ' is continuing to increase'. According to the Chamber, 90% of its members surveyed said their corporate headquarters have a positive view of Ireland as an investment location, and 68% said their headquarters already have plans to invest in Ireland over the next five years. It also found that 96% of members said believe the ability to meet climate targets is critical in preserving Ireland's competitiveness, while the same number of respondents expressed concern over the impact that reaching full capacity at Irish airports and ports would have for growth and investment. Mr Sweetman warned that 'infrastructural gaps in key areas including housing, energy and transport are a challenge to Ireland's competitiveness'. The recently announced revised National Development Plan commits to strong investment across a number areas, but it is vital Ireland addresses infrastructure gaps with great urgency. "This can position the country for continued success in attracting and growing foreign direct investment into the future.' On the infrastructure gap, the Chamber said that along with delivering housing, 'critical transport connectivity projects including MetroLink and Dart+' are also needed along with funding to Uisce Éireann to support long-term development projects. The Chamber survey of members found that 98% indicated the availability of housing is a challenge for their employees. In this area it also called for enhancing the electricity grid capacity while supporting renewable energy growth. In the area of taxation, the Chamber has called for tax credits in the areas of digitalisation and decarbonisation as well as the extension of current income tax exemptions and reducing personal tax burdens on employees to support the attraction and retention of talent. The Chamber also called for policies around attracting and retaining talent which includes 'advancing measures to address skills gaps and further support apprenticeships, expanding roles eligible for employment permits and providing an annual budget to support innovation'. Mr Sweetman said that the budget should focus on 'economic levels' within the Government's control. 'Our pre-budget submission outlines smart investment and policy decisions that will best prepare Ireland to leverage opportunities in talent attraction, research and development, digital solutions and energy over the years to come,' he said. 'Winning the next wave of FDI is achievable if Ireland builds upon its existing strengths. This, in turn, will support the growth of the 970 US operations in Ireland, directly employing 210,000 people and a further 169,000 people indirectly.'

Sinn Féin seeks meeting over Irish language status at Galway university
Sinn Féin seeks meeting over Irish language status at Galway university

RTÉ News​

time8 hours ago

  • RTÉ News​

Sinn Féin seeks meeting over Irish language status at Galway university

Sinn Féin's Irish and Gaeltacht spokesperson, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, has requested an urgent meeting with the Ollscoil na Gaillimhe authority to discuss the status of the Irish language at the university. Mr Ó Snodaigh said the Irish language community is disappointed that a "president with no Irish has been appointed to the country's only bilingual university for the first time since the State was founded". Last week, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe announced the appointment of Professor David J Burn from Newcastle in England as its 14th president. He will succeed Professor Peter McHugh, who has been in the position on an interim basis for almost a year. Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh had been the university president since 2018. This is the first time since 1926 that a president who does not speak Irish has been appointed to the university. Sinn Féin said this is a step backwards "in a university which is meant to be central to the revival of Irish and of the Gaeltacht". "I wish Professor Burn every success in his new role," said Mr Ó Snodaigh, "but urgent clarity is needed for the Irish-speaking community who are disappointed that a president with no Irish has been appointed to the country's only bilingual university for the first time since the State was founded". In 2017, the then government ended the statutory obligation which existed since 1926 that the office holder must be fluent and competent to perform their duties in Irish. Conradh na Gaeilge has also criticised the decision. Advocacy Manager with Conradh na Gaeilge, Róisín Ní Chinnéide, said that since the stipulation ended in 2017, there is no longer a statutory protection for the Irish language in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. "This means that it will now be left to the university itself to demonstrate their commitment to the language. If the staff cannot conduct their business with the offices of the university in the Irish language, then one must ask if the university can continue to claim to be a bilingual one." Sinn Féin have called on the university to provide a definition of what constitutes a bilingual university. In a statement to RTÉ, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe said there has been no explicit requirement for a president of the university to be an Irish speaker since 2017. It said "the university's bilingual status is a key priority and the role of president includes statutory responsibility for providing strong leadership in supporting and promoting commitment to both our language and culture".

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store