Harris: Threats are vile and relentless, but I'm trying to get on with the job

Eva Osborne

Simon Harris has said that he felt he had to speak on the threats being made against him and his family due to their "vile" and "relentless" nature.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1, the Tánasite said that he is "trying to get on with the job" in spite of the threats.

Multiple bomb threats have been made in relation to the home of the Tánaiste. Threats have also been made against one of his close family members.

When asked how his family were doing in the wake of the threats, Harris said they were doing "okay".

"It's been a pretty rotten time. This was a difficult decision. I mean, generally in politics you're kind of meant to shrug it off, shut up, move on, get on with it," he said.

"I just felt, in consultation with my family, that we couldn't do this because of the level of viciousness and the vile nature of the threats targeting my children, very close family relatives, and the sustained, relentless nature of it I think and thought needs to be called out.

"This is not who we are, these are crimninal acts.

"Whatever people thinks of anybody's politics, I'm a democratically elected member of Dáil Éireann, I'm the leader of a political party, I'm the Tánaiste, the deputy Prime Minister of this government, and people are entitled to go about their business, as are their families, free from abuse and criminal behaviour.

It's been a very difficult period but I thought it was important to speak out in relation to it.

Harris was asked how he ensures his family's safety while also making sure that those responsible for the threats do not win.

"If there was a threat to kidnap your child, if there was a threat of sexual violence against a very close relative, and if there were threats to bomb your house, I'm not sure you'd be in work today," he said.

"I'm here. I've turned up. I'm doing my very best to get on with my job, that's what I'm trying to do."

On whether he considered leaving politics at the level he's at, Harris said: "I love politics. I love public service. It's nearly part of my DNA at this stage.

"I also love my family and, being honest, what I didn't want to do this week was just jump over what's happened.

"I'm refusing to allow it be glossed over because, as I said in my statement: 'Me today, someone else the next day'. And I keep on thinking if someone can make those threats against me, what could happen to somebody else?

"I don't mean to be alarmist, but we've seen another jurisdiction's violence against politicians, we've seen in this country violence against politicians.

I have a number of jobs. My job as a public representative and my job as a father and a husband and I'm trying to balance all of them.

"I've dug deep, I've turned up, and I'm trying to get on with the job."

Catherine Connolly condemns threats

Catherine Connolly has condemned threats against Simon Harris and his family and said those who make these threats deny us the opportunities for public engagement.

The presidential candidate said: “I want to take this opportunity to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the threats being made against Tánaiste Simon Harris and his family.

"There can be no place for such violent threats against politicians and their families.

“The violent abuse and threats against public and political figures are appalling and those responsible should be held to account.

"We must have a safe environment for engagement, debate and political differences."

Connolly said the threats are "an attack on all of us".

"They close down the space for public engagement and open debate that our democracy depends on. We cannot allow that.

"We must stand together and make it clear: those who threaten and abuse will not win.”