Sexist and sectarian abuse is being directed towards Sinn Fein councillor Patrice Hardy, the party’s vice president has claimed.
Michelle O’Neill described what she called a campaign of ‘abuse, discrimination, aggression and misogyny’ towards Patrice Hardy, an elected representative on Mid and East Antrim Council.
Cllr Hardy, who is one of two Sinn Fein councillors, has taken to Twitter to reveal her thoughts. The council has not yet commented on these allegations.
I’m not going to lie or act like it’s easy. I hardly eat a bite on the first Monday of the month at the thought of going into that chamber. But I still go and I still speak. I’ll keep going and I’ll keep speaking.
— Patrice Hardy (@MisssPatrice) January 7, 2019
.@moneillsf condemns verbal abuse against councillor Patrice Hardy and challenges all political leaders to stand against abuse of elected representatives pic.twitter.com/PT5S4lyqfZ
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) January 8, 2019
I mean how dare those pesky SF reps use twitter and inform everyone what’s happening. How bloody dare they.
— Patrice Hardy (@MisssPatrice) January 7, 2019
Patrice’s experience tells us a lot about how unionist dominated councils operate. They want to ensure that the Republican voice is not heard and of course there is a degree of misogyny thrown in as well. Patrice, like other Republicans will not be silenced. https://t.co/MgXOeh164d
— MEP Martina Anderson (@M_AndersonSF) January 8, 2019
Keep going and keep speaking… It makes them more uncomfortable than you can imagine
— Dominic Molloy (@cllrdmolloy) January 7, 2019
It’s very simple, in Belfast we have 19 seats out of 54, in MEA we have 2 out of 40. They think it’s acceptable/easy to harass and bully our Councillors were they have the numbers, they don’t dare do it where they don’t. They don’t get away with it anywhere!
— Cllr Michael Goodman (@macgiolla) January 7, 2019
I'm not a SF supporter but from what I read in the local paper you are treated in a disgraceful way by many councillors. This shouldn't happen and you are brave to keep going to meetings. Being a woman probably doesn't help
— Ballymoney3 (@Ballymoney3) January 7, 2019