Gardaí confirm probe into alleged hate crimes against Donegal councillor

BY JEROME HUGHES

RAPHOE Councillor Frank McBrearty Jnr claims there is a concerted effort being made to destroy his reputation and stifle his efforts to get re-elected onto Donegal County Council.

Cllr McBrearty, who himself has previously been falsely accused of murder, insists there have been “dozens” of death threats made against him since 1997.

“An Garda Síochána have assured me that my house is being monitored at nighttime. My security cameras have been upgraded,” he told the Donegal News.

The Independent councillor has expressed concern after he was made aware of sinister graffiti having been sprayed
onto his property in Raphoe.

“There is a full garda investigation happening. It involves forensics, scene of crime officers, and items taken away for examination. They took three finger prints off the door where ‘killer’ was written.” said Cllr McBrearty.

The word ‘killer’ was written onto the door of a building owned by the McBrearty’s in Raphoe town. Gardaí say their investigations are ongoing.

“One of my election posters, that was at the GAA Centre of Excellence in Convoy, has been taken away for forensic examination. Another poster in Glenfin had ‘w—-r’ written on it using red paint.

“Two other big posters, that cost €100 each, were stolen from Kilross and St Johnston. I see it as a threat and as a slur on our name,” added the councillor.

“There’s an orchestrated campaign to damage me politically. I’m seen as a threat because I expose what others don’t expose.

“I’m not frightened to ask the hard questions,” insists Cllr McBrearty.

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