Election candidate considers wearing bodycam for safety after abuse incidents

An election candidate has had extra security installed at her home - and is considering wearing a bodycam to keep her safe on the canvass.

Fianna Fail councillor Catherine Slattery spoke out after members of her party colleague, Suzzie O’Deniyi's campaign team fell victim to abusive harassment and intimidation while on the campaign trail.

“The world has gone very bitter and nasty. Targeting innocent people only trying to do a job is awful, it’s shocking and disgraceful,” said Cllr Slattery, currently the only female Fianna Fail councillor in the city.

She sent solidarity to Ms O’Deniyi, who, for her part, said the fact the video went viral has encouraged her to continue to canvass.

“The result of this has increased awareness of not tolerating any form of racial or sexist abuse,” she added.

Separately, a garda probe has been launched into the theft of 50 Aontu campaign posters.

And Labour councillor Conor Sheehan has slammed a “dirty tricks campaign” after a number of his own posters were ripped down.

The councillor, who is openly gay, says he’s fallen victim to homophobic abuse online.

Cllr Slattery has revealed that for this election, whenever she canvasses, it has to be in the presence of men. “A group of women could never go around alone,” she said.

“I have had to get a top-of-the-range security system and cameras on my house.”

In terms of using bodycams, she said she would “100%” consider it, and pointed out that when election hopefuls are subjected to abuse while being filmed, the recording could help identify a perpetrator.

“We have cameras and ring-doorbells in our homes to protect us, so it’s looking likely we are going to have to have bodycams to protect us if we are out canvassing,” the City East district councillor added.