Man arrested over threats made to Mary Lou McDonald and Drew Harris

A man has been arrested by gardaí investigating an online threat against the Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.

Ms Mc Donald had reported the issue to gardaí after a video appeared online showing a man in a balaclava threatening to shoot her.

The Garda Commissioner Drew Harris was also threatened in the social media post.

In a statement, gardaí have said they have arrested a man in his 20s as part of the investigation.

He is currently being held in a Garda station in Dublin.

In the video, since removed from TikTok, a man threatened violence against Ms McDonald and Mr Harris while expressing support for people engaged in disturbances outside proposed asylum seeker accommodation in Coolock.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, she said: “Last night a threat to kill me was issued online. The individual said he would shoot me dead.

“This represents an escalation of targeted online abuse directed at me over the last year. It is totally unacceptable.

“I have reported this to An Garda Siochana.”

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Ms McDonald admitted that the incident had been “very frightening”, but she added that “every line has now been crossed” and she was now “calling out” the threat and ongoing threats and vilification on social media.

Ms McDonald thanked the public for their support, but said the abuse should not have happened, and she levelled criticism at social media platforms who allowed such content to go unchecked.

She also says she is determined not to let the death threat deter her from pursuing her political ambitions.

Ms McDonald's comments come after former taoiseach Leo Varadkar revealed there were times when he was fearful for his own safety.