Kildare politician’s home attacked

A Kildare county councillor has called on the Electoral Commission to no longer publish the home addresses of candidates after a rock was thrown through his family home living room window – and the Commission seems to be sympathetic.

“I don't know, somebody decided to do that,” said Cllr Bill Clear when asked about the window damaged in the early hours of last Wednesday morning.

Cllr Clear, had just recently polled well, though unsuccessfully in the Kildare North constituency as an Independent for the General Election.

“It could be anybody, but there’s one or two on Facebook have been getting pretty aggressive,” he said.

“The guards told me to leave it, and they’d investigate it.

“A couple of people think like they’re doing a community service online, but all they do is wind other people up.

“The rock was thrown in the window, but on the same night there was significant damage done to signage, ring buoys and bins along the canal.

“I mean, it took a forklift to install the Greenway sign, but that was ripped up with hatred and thrown into the canal.

“This all led up to my house from Tandy bridge.

“The rock was thrown into our downstairs sitting room front window sometime between midnight and 6am on Wednesday morning (4 December).

“This is what you get when you have to publicise your address to be in the General Election – it’s too much of a coincidence.

“There’s no longer phone books but our address seems to have escaped that.

“My wife and the three kids were here at the time.

“The Electoral Commission needs to wake up because we’re living in a time where violence against candidates is more likely.

“What are they planning to do to protect us?

“But it says it all about modern politics, that because I was standing in the General Election I had to nominate someone to be co-opted onto my (Council) seat if I got elected.

“They don’t face any election, and are in for the next four and a half years – but I couldn’t find one person, not one,” he said.

In reply, Brian Dawson, the communications manager with the commission was sympathetic.

"I’m Kildare-based myself, and am aware of the situation Cllr Clear has faced. However, under present electoral law, nomination papers must carry the candidates name, address and occupation – it’s about transparency, and keeping them identifiable. 

"However, recent guidelines given to Returning Officers has been that the candidate’s home address doesn’t need to be on the nomination papers."