COUNCILLORS are being urged to report incidents of abuse to the gardaí and not to let it go unchecked, a meeting heard.

Cllr Jack White called for Cork County Council to pass a motion condemning the recent threats aimed towards Tánaiste Simon Harris and his family, as well as politicians across the political spectrum.

Cllr White also added that he wanted to include the recent false information pertaining to then-presidential candidate Jim Gavin and others.

His colleague, Cllr Aileen Browne, seconded the motion and said the abuse that Simon Harris has received and the death threats that his family have received are ‘absolutely appalling.’

‘I think that we as public representatives have a duty to report abuse or threats to the gardaí and by not reporting incidents it makes the perpetrator bolder,’ said Cllr Browne.

‘We need to all call it out. It is abuse and we can’t accept it online, and we need to condemn it.’

Cllr Frank O’Flynn agreed and said it’s high time they call out the abuse for what it is and criticised the ‘keyboard warriors.’

‘This affects all politicians across the board. We have people online putting out abuse and it’s important that we as politicians post accurate information online,’ said Cllr O’Flynn, who added that he doesn’t fear anyone.

‘This is something that needs a bigger debate and those social media companies have to be responsible at the end of the day for the content on their sites.

‘They are good enough to take the money from people and there has to be some control put in place.’

At the same meeting, Cllr Gillian Coughlan highlighted some instances of abuse and ‘unsavoury comments’ which some councillors, public representatives and council staff recently received about the controversial Cork to Kinsale Greenway.