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The Gardaí is investigating the threats made against Galway City Mayor Mike Cubbard and his family.
Cllr Cubbard, an independent councilman, said Friday that he was walking away from politics for a short period as a result of the abuse.
He said the threats had been to remove his family from their home and “sleep with one eye open.”
He was contacted by a senior Garda official on Thursday, who informed him that the Gardaí was taking the threats seriously and that a detective had been assigned to investigate the matter.
A Garda spokesperson declined to comment on the named individuals, but confirmed that “Gardaí is investigating an alleged threat believed to have been made against a man in Galway City in November 2020.”
Cllr Cubbard said the threats began “almost innocently” a year and a half ago when someone wrote “Cubbard out” at the community center.
He said an individual later told him that he would burn his wife and young children outside their home, and that they should sleep with one eye open.
Last week, a neighbor who works for the Galway County Council woke up to find that someone had written “HSE bastards. We will burn you. We’ll take Cubbard ”in his municipal van, Cllr Cubbard said.
Cllr Cubbard said he would “take a week or two to clear my head space” in the wake of the abuse before returning to his duties as mayor.
“My wife and my three children are at home. It’s one thing to try a politician, but when you start incorporating the family, it’s a different level. “
Cllr Cubbard said it does not know what prompted the threats. “I have never shied away from criticism. I have no problem with anyone who can reach this level of incorporating their family. “
“I have to protect my family first and foremost. Every time the light goes out in the front yard, my wife jumps in to see who it is. “
He said he is not the only local politician to be abused.
“There are people who suffer in silence. Yesterday I spoke with a councilwoman who has suffered horrible abuse in the last decade in politics. She shouldn’t have to do that. “
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