Closure of Holly Cairns' constituency office over safety concerns 'shocking', says Cork councillor

The closure of Holly Cairns' office in Cork has been labelled "shocking" after a decision was taken to close the premises due to safety concerns.

A decision was taken to close the Social Democrats leader's constituency office in Bandon following a security review.

Ms Cairns has represented Cork South West as a TD since 2020 and had been a member of Cork County Council prior to her election to the Dáil.

As reported by the Irish Examiner, Ms Cairns' home in West Cork was previously visited by an online stalker.

In a statement, Ms Cairns explained: "Following a security review last summer, in consultation with my team, a decision was made to close the office."

She reiterated that gardaí had previously advised her against holding clinics in her constituency.

All signage at the constituency office, just off Weir Street in Bandon, has been removed in recent days following the decision.

Responding to the news, the chair of Cork City Council's women's caucus, Fianna Fáil Councillor Mary Rose Desmond, said public representatives should be able to carry out their work safely.

"It's shocking to think that any public representative, or anybody at all in society, would have to close their premises for safety reasons, and that they can't have freedom in the job and be accessible in the manner which having a constituency office provides for constituents and people in the locality," Cllr Desmond told Newstalk.

"To have to close like that due to various security reasons is just shocking altogether, in any walk of life," she added.