Simon Harris condemns ‘despicable’ online threats against his family

Tánaiste Simon Harris has condemned “direct threats” made against his family on social media at the weekend.

Gardaí have confirmed they are investigating the alleged threats.

In a statement on Monday, the Fine Gael leader said that as a father he had “very strong views and feelings” on the issue, while as a political leader he found it “unacceptable in every way”.

“Let me be clear: threatening people - any person - is a crime,” he said. “Threatening children is despicable. It is cowardice and it is a line that no decent society should tolerate being crossed.

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“I will not be commenting further at this time on any ongoing Garda investigation.”

Asked about the incident, a Garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána is currently investigating this matter.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said threats to people in public life are unacceptable.

“I condemn unreservedly the abhorrent threats made to Tánaiste Simon Harris and his family. Such threats to people in public life are unacceptable,” he said. “They are a fundamental threat to our democracy.”

The Fine Gael leader has received threats before, including through social media and a phoned bomb threat.

Protests have also been held outside the house in Co Wicklow where he lives with his wife and children.

In June 2024, an anonymous caller rang a Samaritans helpline and claimed there was an explosive device at the Harris family home. The alarm was immediately raised by the organisation.

Mr Harris, who was in the Dáil in the evening of the incident, said at the time the bomb hoax was intended to “intimidate and upset” his family, describing the events as an “unacceptable situation”.

“I don’t really wish to comment on it other than to say obviously this is clearly unacceptable situation. Even the word hoax I’m not sure is a fair word as I’ve no doubt these things are done to intimidate and upset. I have young children, I have a wife,” he said.

Such threats represented “a really unacceptable situation”, Mr Harris said, adding when masked people turn up outside his house it should not be described in media reports as a “protest”.