GARDAI are investigating the circumstances surrounding a threatening message to Labour's Dublin North West TD, Ms Roisin Shortall. It is understood that she is now the subject of additional Garda surveillance.
The recorded message, left on her answering machine in the Dail yesterday, consisted of the sound of seven gunshots. There was no verbal message.
Ms Shortall's secretary was the first to hear the recording when she came to work in Leinster House and told the TD. Gardai were alerted and two senior officers who were called to listen to the message were satisfied that the noise they heard was indeed that of gunshots.
The Deputy refused to comment on the episode but is understood to be quite shaken. It came just one day after she trenchantly condemned drug pushing during an RTE radio interview.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, last night described the threat to Ms Shortall as "a matter of considerable worry". The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, expressed support for his backbench TD who was committed to countering the "scourge of drugs". Neither she nor himself nor her party political colleagues would be intimidated.
As the matter was under investigation, it was not appropriate to comment in detail, Mr Spring added.
The Labour party chairman, Mr Jim Kemmy, said he regarded the matter as "a direct warning to TDs to back off". He did not believe it was a prank, adding that it amounted to "a serious attempt to stop her speaking out". Given the murder of the journalist, Ms Veronica Guerin, last week, he was "not surprised that Deputies are next in line".
"But we will not be silenced ... I am concerned that we will give Roisin all the support we can. Hands off and guns off," Mr Kemmy said.
There was an obvious Garda presence at yesterday's launch of a Labour document on fighting drugs in Dublin, which Ms Shortall presented.
Formerly a primary school teacher in Dublin, Ms Shortall is married with three children. She was elected in 1992 at her first attempt.