‘We have to call it out’ – Louth councillor says ‘personal and nasty’ abuse over fuel protests not acceptable
A Louth councillor has hit back at personal abuse she received in an anonymous letter, which questioned her stance on the fuel protests and her route into politics with the words “you have nothing to offer anyone.”
The typed letter was addressed to Fine Gael councillor Rachel Kerley, and accused her of remaining silent on the protests which brought parts of the motorway network to a standstill over the last month.
One section of the letter said: “Local farmers and contractors are nearly f****d and you can’t open your mouth. Sure what's the point in you?”
Cllr. Kerley, who represents mid-Louth, was co-opted to Louth County Council in December 2025 when Fine Gael’s Paula Butterly was elected as a TD.
The letter criticised her receipt of salary and expenses for carrying out her work as a councillor, stating: “Maybe if you had run independent you might have stood a chance, but you ran to the gravy train and milked the tax payer, you were afraid to stand on your own two feet because you have nothing to offer anyone.”
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Speaking to Independent.ie, Cllr Kerley said the letter had been received at her family’s business and addressed to her by name, with the words “unelected representative” written on the envelope.
“It was intimidating and of a personal nature, and that is just not acceptable for anyone. You wouldn’t say these things to people on the street,” she said.
“I’ve never made any secret out of the fact that I was co-opted. But I did run for election. In the June 2024 Local Elections I put my name on a ballot paper as a first time candidate, receiving 978 first preference votes and missing the 6th seat by 58 votes.
"I have never once been ashamed of not winning the seat; I did not win, but I put my name on the ballot paper.”
She added: “We have to call this out, this letter was very personal, and ironically the person expressing these views didn’t put their name to the letter. Politics has become personalised and nasty, and I no longer think it’s ok to pretend this is not happening.”
One of the youngest councillors on Louth County Council, Cllr Kerley said she understands that engagement and criticism are part of public life, but anonymous abuse crosses a line.
She added: “I am prepared to debate with people, even if we don’t see eye to eye, but this is not OK, and it won’t encourage young people or female candidates to put themselves forward for election, when that is exactly what we need, a better representation of society in politics."
Speaking on the fuel protests, she said: “I respect that I am a Fine Gael councillor, that is a position I hold. But I do not have the power to change the fuel prices. I know there is frustration out there, and I do understand it.”
She said that comments in the letter about councillors’ expenses were misleading. “The expenses referred to include a councillor’s salary, the same way as everyone gets a salary for their job.”
Cllr Kerley said abuse of public representatives should not be normalised.
“We as a society have begun to accept personal abuse of public representatives as a norm, but it’s not ok. We can’t keep silent on this anymore.”
She decided to post the letter on her social media account, and add her own feelings about the contents.
"A lot of the comments in response to my post were that I should expect this because of the job I do, and accept it. But that’s just not right.”
One responder said the letter was “fake” as it didn’t have a postmark on the envelope, despite the fact it was received at her family’s business.
“I am open to hearing anyone’s opinions, but we cannot allow nameless abuse to become acceptable behaviour in our country.”