Mayor of Galway city to return to duties after break following abuse

Mayor of Galway city Mike Cubbard will return to his political duties from Tuesday following a two week break as a result of abuse he and his family have received.

Cllr Cubbard, an independent councillor, announced on March 19th he was stepping back from politics for a short period after threats were made to burn his family out of their home.

The mayor said the threats began “almost innocently” a year and a half ago when someone wrote “Cubbard out” on the community centre.

He said an individual later told him he would burn his wife and young children out of their home, and that they should sleep with one eye open.

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Last week a neighbour who works for Galway County Council awoke to find someone had written “HSE bastards. We’ll burn you out. We’ll get Cubbard” on his council van, Cllr Cubbard said.

Cllr Cubbard said he was going to “take a week or two to clear my headspace” in the wake of the abuse before returning to his duties as mayor.

Cllr Cubbard said on Monday he had met with gardaí a number of times during his two weeks away from mayoral duties and that his home and personal security had also been assessed.

“I needed the time and break away to find the headspace to do this as it has been a very stressful period for our family,” he said in a statement on Monday. “I also realised, if anything, that I too am human and that there is a point in all of our lives, whatever pressures our various home or work situations bring, that mentally it can become overwhelming.

“Admitting that as a politician is probably unheard of but I made a commitment to the electorate and to myself that I would only every continue if I could give the job 100 per cent commitment.”

Investigation

Cllr Cubbard said gardaí were continuing their investigation into the threats against his family and that he, his wife and children were in “a better place mentally”.

“Therefore, I am confident I can once again give the role 100 per cent commitment as is required,” he said.

Cllr Cubbard expressed thanks to his deputy mayor, colleagues at Dublin City Council and others who offered support in recent weeks. He also thanked the elected members around the country who had contacted him about the intimidation and bullying they had also suffered.

He acknowledged that public representatives should be “challenged, scrutinised and opposed but nobody, regardless of what badge or banner they fly under in public life, deserves to have their families, their home and their personal headspace attacked by faceless individuals”.

Cllr Cubbard said he would only ever leave political life through his own free will or by the choice of the electorate in the ballot box. “A third option – being driven out of public life by faceless cowards is not on the table,” he said.