Patsy O’Brien says pornographic message despatched to Fantastic Gael feminine staffer was ‘office banter’
Fantastic Gael mentioned expelled councillor repeatedly despatched unsolicited materials to a girl
Authorities Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton nonetheless has not commented
Mr O’Brien has till now refused to debate the rationale why he was expelled from Fantastic Gael.
Nonetheless, after Fantastic Gael issued an announcement saying they expelled the Mayo County Councillor attributable to him sending unsolicited pornographic photos to a celebration member, Mr O’Brien has damaged his silence.
In an announcement to Midwest Radio in the present day, Mr O’Brien mentioned he despatched one message to the person concerned round October 2019.
“The textual content was generic and viral on the time and was despatched in error by me to an individual for which I apologised for,” he mentioned.
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“The Whatsapp, as despatched, was generic and viral on the time and was not of myself. It was delivered to my consideration some three months afterwards, a whole lot of texts which might be despatched within the office atmosphere, quantity to office banter,” he added.
Mr O’Brien mentioned he’s persevering with to look at “all documentations and paper reviews which have circulated just lately” and mentioned “extra importantly” the newest Fantastic Gael assertion on the rationale for his expulsion has “now been handed to my authorized staff”.
The sooner Fantastic Gael assertion mentioned Mr O’Brien was expelled from the celebration after an inside committee discovered he was in breach of their code of conduct for “repeatedly” sending unsolicited pornographic materials, which was “degrading and graphic in nature”, to the Oireachtas employees member.
“This brought on critical upset, alarm and misery to her,” Fantastic Gael mentioned.
“A Fantastic Gael listening to committee in 2020 discovered that Councillor O’Brien despatched pornographic and sexually specific materials, together with movies, to the employees member whereas he was finishing up his work as a county councillor and when making representations on behalf of residents and constituents.
“Accordingly, the committee decided that by his actions, Councillor O’Brien acted in a way which was opposite to the code of conduct of the Fantastic Gael celebration and expelled him from membership of the celebration,” they mentioned.
Fantastic Gael has not answered any questions associated to Authorities Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton campaigning with Mr O’Brien, regardless of allegedly realizing concerning the messages which led to his expulsion.
Mr O’Brien confirmed in his assertion that no less than one message was despatched in 2019. In letters despatched to Taoiseach Simon Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee, the employees member is known to have alleged Ms Naughton was advised concerning the messages in 2019.
Fb posts on Ms Naughton’s official web page present she campaigned alongside O’Brien in South Mayo in the course of the 2020 Basic Election. On February 2, 2020, Ms Naughton posted images of herself and Mr O’Brien having a “nice day canvassing”.
The next day, she posted a video endorsement from Mr O’Brien and one other councillor, together with a caption describing the 2 males as “actually glorious and hardworking councillors in south Mayo”.
Ms Naughton has not responded to any requests for remark.
