Galway East based Minister of State Anne Rabbitte has been dealing with an onslaught of online abuse in recent days, after she spoke in the Dail earlier this week about how she had felt physically threatened by a male in her Portumna constituency office last month, and before that, in a completely separate incident, had received a bomb threat to her Athenry constituency office.

Minister Rabbitte was speaking in the Dail, following the tragic murder of Tullamore teacher Aisling Murphy last week. The Dail was debating abuse against woman and the Minister outlined her recent first hand experiences.

Having outlined her own story, and it being published in the national press, she has subsequently, been the recipient of vile and abusive comments online.

Minister Rabitte has been speaking to Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley about the physical and online threats and abuse that have been impacting on how she now goes about her daily business…