GARDAI are investigating death threats sent to an Irish Independent journalist after politician Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan posted his mobile number and personal email address online.

Gardaí from Store Street are investigating the threats to journalist Niall O'Connor, which were made hours after Ming put the phone number online.

The Sunday World made contact with the person linked to the number that made the threats but they claimed that their phone had "gone missing" during the time the messages were sent.

The threats said: “C***. Make no mistake, you are scum and I would love to see you dead. Would happily help to bring it about. Scum c***.”

It went on to detail a disturbing graphic sexual fantasy which cannot be printed in a family newspaper before ending: “There’s a good girl. C***”.

Mr O’Connor received a number of other unwanted communications this week after his number was printed online, as well as malicious email communication.

They were sent after MEP Flanagan posted Mr O’Connor’s mobile number and personal email on Twitter.

Mr O’Connor had sent an email to Flanagan asking why he voted in favour of a hard border with Northern Ireland in relation to Brexit. The Roscommon man later changed his vote and told Mr O’Connor the initial vote was made in error.

However, he also posted Mr O’Connor’s personal details online and boasted about the power of social media.

Fine Gael TD Noel Rock said he utterly condemned Ming for putting Mr O’Connor’s phone number online.

“It’s outrageous and irresponsible to be putting up private individuals’ phone numbers like that,” he said.

Online Editors