An Independent TD has claimed he received death threats yesterday as a result of views he expressed in the Dáil with regard to the upcoming vote on the abortion legislation.

Waterford Deputy John Halligan said he received an email warning him that his “days are numbered” and that he should “check under [his] car”.

Mr Halligan spoke in the Dáil on Thursday during Leaders’ Questions in which he criticised the Catholic Church for “attempting to interfere in the running of the State”.

“There have been several serious incidents of verbal abuse aimed at TDs,” he said last night. “One has received a crown of thorns; another has been ambushed outside her home. TDs have been spat at. They have been threatened with having their homes burned down and their throats cut.”

The claims come just days after Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he had received letters written in blood calling him “a murderer” because of the forthcoming Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill.

“I am now being branded by personnel around the country as being a murderer. I’m going to have on my soul the death of 20 million babies. I’m getting medals, scapulars, plastic foetuses, letters written in blood, telephone calls all over the system and it’s not confined to me,” he added.

Mr Halligan said he would be reporting this latest matter to the Garda. “Threats to legislators – be they with violence or words – are a serious matter.”