TWENTY FOUR hour Garda protection surrounds the Labour TD, Ms Roisin Shortall, after she received a second threatening telephone message.
The Dublin North West Deputy was telephoned at home late on Tuesday night by a man who feigned the sound of a gunshot.
Earlier that day, Ms Shortall heard seven gunshots in a recorded message on her Dail answering machine and gardai believe the sound to be that of authentic gunfire.
Ms Shortall alerted the Garda on both occasions and it was decided that she should have additional surveillance. On Monday, she spoke out strongly against drug pushers and the following day launched her party's anti crime package.
Deploring the threat to their colleague, the Parliamentary Labour Party yesterday expressed "full and complete solidarity" with Ms Shortall.
Following a discussion on the crime situation, the chairman of the parliamentary party, Mr Michael Bell, said TDs and Senators were "appalled" at the latest telephone incident.
"The Government is embarking on a long war against drug barons and crime bosses. Every arm and resource of the State must be used in this fight," Mr Bell said.