New laws are needed to stop protests taking place outside the homes of public figures, a minister who had to be escorted to safety by gardai on Sunday said on Monday.
Junior Defence Minister Paul Kehoe hit out protesters from the Fingal Battalion Direct Action Group who picketed his home.
Minister Kehoe along with his wife and three children left the house in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford when gardaí were called to deal with and anti-eviction protest.
The veteran politician told Morning Mix on South East Radio he will meet with Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan to seen if new laws can be drafted to prevent homes of politicians being targeted.
He said: “I believe this is something that should be legislated against and it’s becoming too prevalent that there are people protesting outside people’s homes.
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“They surrounded the front part of my driveway... I’d say (there was) eight to ten people who blocked my driveway, “it’s an invasion of privacy it’s frightening on young people.
“I understand that this has happened to people within the judiciary as well. I will be speaking with Minister Charlie Flanagan on this. I actually didn’t think much of this but when it happens outside your own home it is totally, totally different. It brings you to a different perspective, you understand what people go through, you understand what families go through. More importantly, you understand what children go through.
Minister Kehoe told presenter Alan Corcoran that he is disgusted that his family had to witness the protests.
He said: “Children should not have to witness this, they are not in politics, they are not the elected representative of the people, I’m the elected person.. the elected person has a constituency office in Enniscorthy for over 17 years now and that is where people can protest.”
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When asked by Alan Corcoran if it would make him want to leave walk away from politics Minister Kehoe said: “I won’t say walk away, but it does question your involvement in politics and public life absolutely, I’d be telling you a total black lie if I didn’t say that because I never brought my own family... I never put up photographs of my kids online.. on Facebook or Twitter because I want to protect them from the public life that I lead.
“That is one of the reasons I didn’t want them having to witness what happened yesterday.
When we were leaving he house... for gardai having to clear people away from the front of your driveway... for kids having to leave the house... guards protestors outside the house, in my mind, is absolutely wrong.”
The interview generated a storm of messages to the station and over 95% of them supported the minister.
The Fingal Battalion Direct Action Group shared a video from outside Minister’s home.
They claim it is part of their #BringItToTheirDoors campaign and one protester was filmed saying: “Minister Kehoe is part of a government that is allowing massive homelessness... The health service is in meltdown. Hundreds of thousands are on the waiting lists for up to five years.”
