A FINE GAEL councillor who claimed on Twitter that Sharia law “is operating in Ireland” is being referred to a the party’s disciplinary committee.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Brian Murphy posted a series of controversial comments on Twitter this week regarding migrants and Islam.

“Sharia law is operating in Ireland and most of the political class either do not know or do not care. It is a subversion of our legal system,” Murphy wrote.

He also claimed that future generations of Europeans will “inherit countries more divided, more dangerous and packed full of terrorists”.

“The majority of the media in the Western world are cowards, most politicians are cowards and most of the artistic establishment are cowards,” he wrote.

A number of Fine Gael politicians took to social media last night to distance themselves from Murphy’s comments.

Senator Neale Richmond said: “I wholeheartedly disagree with Brian’s comments and I’ve argued with him on this. They are not reflective of Fine Gael policy.”

Similarly, Fine Gael TD for Dublin North West Noel Rock said that the comments “are completely unacceptable, and completely against the inclusive Ireland that I stand for”.

It’s understood that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he wanted to disassociate himself and the Fine Gael party from Murphy’s comments.

Earlier this year, Murphy came under criticism from media outlets after a tweet about a boy with autism, Hughie Malone, who spoke on The Late Late Show.

During Malone’s appearance on the show, Murphy tweeted: “Some kid on Late Late Show just said he wants to fly planes into buildings when he grows up #LateLateShow”.

Following backlash on social media, Murphy subsequently said that Malone “was a great kid” and that he “did not know that he was joking or that he had autism”.

A party spokesperson confirmed to TheJournal.ie that the councillor has been called to a disciplinary meeting and hearing date will be set soon.

With reporting by Hayley Halpin