Harris says it was his kids' bedtime when protests were mounted outside home
Taoiseach Simon Harris during a press conference outside Stormont Castle, as he makes his first official visit to Northern Ireland. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
The Taoiseach has said it was his children's bed time when anti-migration protestors gathered outside his home yesterday evening carrying placards and banners.
It comes just over a week after Justice Minister Helen McEntee was the victim of a bomb threat to her home forcing the evacuation of her young family.
Mr Harris said protests outside politicians' homes should be out of bounds.
In images circulated on social media, a number of protestors gathered outside his house in Greystones carrying placards and banners. Slogans written on the signs included: “South Dublin says no” and “close the borders”. He was not at home at the time.
However, during an event in Belfast this morning he said that while he did not want to say much on the matter, he added: “I don’t just like describing those sort of things as protests. I’ve a very clear view in relation to this, whether its me, whether it’s an opposition politician, whether it’s - quite frankly anybody – anybody.
“I always think people’s families and people’s homes should be out of bounds.
"It was bedtime for my kids when this situation arose. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
First Minister Michelle O’Neill told reporters she believes there should be “no tolerance” for protests outside people’s homes.
“It is totally inappropriate. The Taoiseach has two young kids and I think your home should be your sanctity,” Ms O’Neill said.
“I don’t think there’s any tolerance or should be any tolerance for that type of attack on someone’s home.”
On the , Mr Harris said that he felt uncomfortable describing the gatherings as protests.
“I irk when I even hear it described as protest because to me, it’s not protest and we shouldn’t in any way seek to normalise this,” Mr Harris said.
“It is behaviour that can be intimidating, it can be deeply upsetting.” Mr Harris said that the Government previously sought assurances from the Gardaí as to whether or not existing laws were sufficient to deal with protests outside politician's homes.
“We recently asked the Gardaí whether the law is adequate in terms of being able to protect people, and their families in their homes.
“The Gardaí have responded that they are and therefore I think we need to continue to support the Gardaí in making sure that action - no matter whose home it is – is taken because nobody’s family deserves to experience that.”
