Two Cabinet Ministers have condemned abusive phone calls reportedly received by public health officials Dr Tony Holohan and Dr Ronan Glynn.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that public health doctors deserve our respect and support.
“It is absolutely appalling that public health doctors advising government would be targeted with abuse for doing their jobs in the middle of a pandemic,” Mr Donnelly tweeted.
It is absolutely appalling that public health doctors advising Government would be targeted with abuse for doing their jobs in the middle of a pandemic. They have worked relentlessly throughout Covid and have difficult jobs to do. They deserve our respect and support.
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) July 18, 2021
“They have worked relentlessly throughout Covid and have difficult jobs to do.”
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said he was “sickened to hear of abusive calls being directed” at Dr Holohan and Dr Glynn.
“Our public health officials have been working around the clock for well over a year now to keep us safe and provide us with the best possible expert advice,” Mr Harris said on Twitter.
Our public health officials have been working around the clock for well over a year now to keep us safe & provide us with the best possible expert advice. Sickened to hear of abusive calls being directed at them & their families
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 18, 2021
Gardaí are investigating the abusive calls made to both the chief medical officer and deputy chief medical officer on Friday.
The call made to Dr Glynn's landline was answered by a member of his family who was subjected to the abuse.
RTÉ health reporter Fergal Bowers was also on the end of an abusive call, which he received at 3.30am on Friday.
In a tweet, Mr Bowers said that he will be alerting the relevant authorities.
