Hackett hits out at 'abhorrent' Facebook post

An “abhorrent” Facebook post and picture showing sods of turf arranged to spell out “F...u Ryan” should be removed, according to local Minister Pippa Hackett.

The Geashill-based politician said she was prompted to speak out about the post on the Barroughter and Clonmoylan Bogs Action Group Facebook page, because it came on the weekend that Minister Eamon Ryan laid his mother to rest.

“This group does not usually shy away from using personalised insults and slurs, but this particular post was abhorrent.

“The post, titled ‘Written in turf’ shows an image of a child kneeling behind three words, styled from sods of turf, which say ‘F*** u Ryan’”.

The Facebook post published on August 13 remained on the Barroughter and Clonmoylan Bogs Action Group page at the time of going to press (Thursday), having been shared 259 times, and attracting a mostly positive reaction among the 170 comments on the page which is followed by over 22,000 people.

Barroughter and Clonmoylan are areas of East Galway close to Portumna, where campaigning has been underway to continue turf cutting for many years. The page, which has followers from all over the country, stated that it represents 900 families in the two bogs, and its motto is “Cut your turf and save your private bog”.

Senator Hackett, who is also a Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, said she believes that the post targetting Minister Ryan “is not worthy of us as Irish people”.

“I have never shied away from discussing difficult issues with people who have a different opinion to my own, but the focus must always be on the issue, not the person.

“I find this post unacceptable on many grounds, not least of which because it comes on the weekend that Minister Eamon Ryan laid his mother to rest.”

Compelled to comment on the post on Sunday, the Offaly Minister expressed her concerns and asked for the post and picture to be removed.

“Within two hours my comment had been removed along with the comments that showed support for my request. By the time my comment was removed, a new image had been posted in the comments, in a similar guise, with sods of turf, but with my name, and no child.

“This anonymous Facebook group chooses to use offensive targeted personal insults, and is followed by over 20,000 people. I believe that all reasonable people will agree that this is an unacceptable way to present an argument.

She vowed to continue to make the case for climate action, biodiversity, clean air and just transition, but will do without “such personal targeting”.

The Barroughter and Clonmoylan Bogs Action Group Facebook page has been contacted for comment but has yet to respond at the time of going to press (Thursday).