Communities Minister Gordon Lyons reveals PSNI advice to 'barricade' himself in home
Communities minister Gordon Lyons has revealed that police have been coaching him to “barricade” himself in his home - such is the level of abuse and threat that has been directed at him.
The DUP MLA was speaking ahead of a special BBC NI report on politics programme ‘The View’ tonight.
It reveals the level of abuse and threat suffered by politicians across the political spectrum.
“I've experienced abuse on the street on a daily basis. Now I get nasty, abusive and vulgar messages,” Mr Lyons told the ‘Nolan Show’ yesterday morning.
Someone was recently fined £500 in court for sending him a threatening message.
On PSNI advice he is now taking different routes to work and learning how to “barricade” himself in his own home or office if he is being attacked.
“And yes, those words were used to me, that I should be able to barricade myself in until help can get there,” he said.
UUP MLA John Stewart said he has suffered “vile” comments attacking his family on social media. As a result, he said: “I don't really do national TV interviews, because raising your profile can often come with consequences and attacks.”
Sinn Fein MLA Sinéad Ennis said that she has had people follow her when out shopping with her children and has had to explain when they ask: 'Why is that person angry?'
She has been spat at, verbally abused and assaulted in her office, she said.
Alliance MLA David Honeyford said he was assaulted at a football match.
“I've had threats and abuse right up to the point of rape, to myself, where I've had to spend time going to a police station, going through the threats,” he said.
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said she suffers “vile” abuse on a daily basis.
“It is vile, it is relentless, and it's often not about my politics. It's in the main about my appearance and about how I look and how people perceive how I look to them,” she said.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said a man was convicted in court on Wednesday of assaulting his office staff. He regularly suffers abuse in the street.
“Why should my son have to put up with his father being berated or shouted at or feeling threatened in the street? Why should I walk away with my son in tears?” he asked.
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter said all representatives face daily abuse but that women especially have to put up with “a torrent of vile misogyny and sexual content”.
She added: “Unless we tackle this we will continue to see talented people forgo a career in politics, depriving the public here of the best representation possible.”
She rarely socialises in her own constituency.
People Before Profile MLA Gerry Carroll said threats made against himself and other community activists in west Belfast recently were made by “racist, far-right agitators”.
“However their hateful rhetoric does not represent that vast majority of people in west Belfast,” he added.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Stephen Murray said women in public life in particular suffer a disproportionate level of abuse.
“We regularly engage with our elected representatives in order to provide information on personal safety and to discuss steps that can be taken to address and reduce the risk of physical or online abuse.”