Fine Gael’s Ray Butler warns colleagues they will be targeted by protesters

A Fine Gael TD who this week said a group of 30 protesters gathered outside his home has warned his colleagues they too will be targeted soon.

Ray Butler, a deputy for Meath West, said he and his family were intimidated by the incident that took place at his home and constituency office in Trim.

The Irish Land League protest group in question has said it is anti-eviction, anti-water charges and is also calling for anti-water charge protestors to be freed from jail.

At the weekly meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, Mr Butler described his experience to his colleagues and warned them they could be next. “He told us they could come after us one by one,” said one deputy.

Dublin South Central's Catherine Byrne also outlined incidents of online abuse she had experienced.

Earlier, Tánaiste Joan Burton said water charge protesters planning to travel to Co Kerry, where Labour holds its conference this weekend, must act within the law.

The Labour leader said they were free to protest but called on them to respect her party’s right to hold its conference on in Killarney tomorrow and on Saturday.

‘Beautiful Killarney’

“Protest in

Ireland

is a cornerstone of our democracy and if they wish to come to beautiful Killarney I’m sure that the hotel people and the hospitality people will welcome them,” Ms Burton said.

“But we’re a democratic party and, just let me say this, the essence of democratic politics is that people should respect that everybody who is involved in politics has the right to conduct their politics and to hold their party conferences.

“But of course people who want to protest, they’re free to protest wherever provided it’s done within our laws.”

She was speaking to reporters at Government Buildings after welcoming the latest employment figures.