Labour condemns journalist doorstepping Galway mayor’s home over website error — ‘It was intimidatory and unacceptable’
The Labour Party has accused a media organisation of “intimidatory and unacceptable” behaviour after a journalist called to the home of Galway City Mayor Helen Ogbu over what the party described as a “typo” on her website.
The Labour Party issued a statement late on Monday, June 29, responding to questions about a discrepancy between the timeline of Cllr Ogbu’s move to Ireland and the death of her husband in Nigeria outlined on her website.
The party said Cllr Ogbu’s website was taken offline after a media organisation highlighted the error. However, a journalist from that outlet travelled to Cllr Ogbu’s home in Galway to speak to her in person.
“Despite receiving that response within one working day, and subsequent to receiving the response, a journalist arrived unannounced at Cllr Ogbu’s home today with a photographer, and they both knocked persistently on her door and also that of her neighbours,” the Labour Party statement read.
“Galway City Council colleagues and elected members were also contacted through the day by the media outlet seeking to establish Helen’s whereabouts.”
The discrepancy related to when Cllr Ogbu moved permanently to Ireland and how that timeline aligned with the killing of her husband, Nigerian politician Sunny Ogbu.
It is understood Cllr Ogbu first visited Ireland in 2001, when she gave birth to her daughter in Dublin, before moving here permanently in 2005. She worked as a social secretary for a diplomat after relocating.
(L-R) Cllr Eibhlin Seoigthe, Esther Osayimwen, representative of YouthLIFT and Africa United Galway, and Cllr Helen Ogbu. © Galway City Council
Labour’s Helen Ogbu took the fourth seat in Galway City East, pictured with family and friends at the count in Westside, Galway. © Ray Ryan
Her husband remained in Nigeria and was killed in late 2010.
The Labour Party criticised the media organisation’s actions, describing the visit as “unnecessary behaviour”, particularly given what the party described as ongoing racist abuse and online harassment directed at Cllr Ogbu.
“A cursory search of Cllr Ogbu’s public profile would show that she is subjected to significant racist abuse and harassment on an ongoing basis, and that her husband was assassinated in Nigeria for his involvement in democratic politics,” the statement said.
“In those circumstances, doorstepping Helen at her home in this way, over a query about a typo that had already been answered within one working day, was unnecessary behaviour.
“It was intimidatory and unacceptable, particularly given the fact that it is public knowledge that her late husband was murdered for his political activity.”
The statement continues: “The Labour Party wishes to express our serious concern at the tactics used by a mainstream media outlet, particularly at a time when far-right agitation is becoming increasingly evident across our communities.”
However, contacted by the Irish Independent, the journalist said: “The Labour Party today confirmed that there was an ‘inaccuracy’ on Helen Ogbu’s website that claimed she came to Ireland after the tragic death of her husband.
“This is contradictory to the statement they provided to us last night, after failing to respond to 20 queries since Friday.”
Cllr Ogbu is the first African woman to be elected Mayor of Galway City. She also contested the Galway West by-election, where she secured 11.5pc of first-preference votes and almost 13,000 votes overall.
She has served on Galway City Council for two years and has also worked as a volunteer coordinator and foster carer.
Cllr Ogbu did not wish to make a statement.
This article was amended on June 30 to include a statement from the journalist.