Cllr Philip Sutcliffe apologises for sharing 'disgusting' spoiled ballot
Independent Councillor Philip Sutcliffe has apologised for sharing an "absolutely disgusting and completely unacceptable” spoiled ballot paper on his social media.
The defaced presidential ballot paper filled with derogatory, racist, and homophobic comments, and Cllr Sutcliffe told councillors on Monday that “I would never share anything like that.” The former boxer and associate of Conor McGregor stated that the image had been forwarded to him and put up on his social media accounts without his knowledge.
With disparaging comments referring to now president-elect Catherine Connolly as “commie filth,” Jim Gavin as a “gombeen,” and Heather Humphreys as an “Ulster Loyalist," this was just one of 213,738 spoiled votes in this election . Other offensive statements on the ballot included “Deport all Africans!” and “Deport All Indians!” and “Ban Same-Sex Adoption.”
Cllr Sutcliffe’s apology was read out by Lord Mayor Cllr Ray McAdam at Monday’s monthly Dublin City Council meeting. It is understood that several councillors were considering making a complaint to the council's ethics committee prior to the apology.
“I want to apologise for the post that appeared on my social media on polling day. The post had been forwarded to me, and I was also tagged in it, and it was accidentally shared on my accounts. I wasn’t aware it had gone up on my social media account,” Cllr Sutcliffe’s statement said.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that the image was not my ballot paper, and the content of that post was absolutely disgusting and completely unacceptable. I would never share anything like that.
“I take full responsibility for what happened and I’m very sorry for any offence or confusion caused. It was an honest mistake, and I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Sinn Féin Cllr Daithí Doolan took issue with Cllr Sutcliffe’s apology and said it would be “more fitting” if he “took responsibility” by reading the apology out to the council chamber himself. He claimed councillors must be held responsible for their own social media pages and the messages they put up.
“The fact that a councillor admits to sharing someone else's ballot paper on their social media raises serious questions that the councillor must answer. Sharing the image of anyone's ballot paper means his fingerprints are on it, and he must take full responsibility for the consequences,” Cllr Doolan stated.
Cllr Doolan claimed that this type of messaging has only added to the "division and hate” that led to “attacks on IPAS centres in Dublin and Drogheda.” Lord Mayor McAdam said it would have been his preference for Cllr Sutcliffe to read the apology himself, but that he read the statement for the record.
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