Mayor of Wexford latest female councillor targeted by anonymous caller claiming to ‘have a sexual interest in children’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

In some ways Councillor Vicky Barron was fortunate. She knew what was coming, had been warned in advance. However, when the call came it was no less frightening, no less disturbing.

The Mayor of Wexford is one of seven female councillors in the county, all of whom have received a phone call from an individual named ‘Declan’ in recent weeks. Targeting only female politicians, Declan has been working his way through the country, contacting as many as 70 councillors as he repeats a message designed to upset and unsettle.

“I received two calls from him, both came from a private number,” says Mayor Barron. “He’s saying the same thing to everyone, it starts off with a very droll voice: ‘Hello, is that Vicky Barron. I’d like to make a declaration. My name is Declan and I have a sexual interest in children.’”

Mayor Barron had been anticipating the call, had been told to expect it, and that softened the impact somewhat.

“I knew as soon as he said his name what the context of the call was going to be. I told him the guards knew who he was and he could make his declaration to them. Then I hung up on him.

“But when he started making these calls to other councillors they were very distressing. You can imagine if you’re the first person to receive this call and he’s telling you he’s going to hurt children, because that’s what he’s been telling other people; that he has a sexual interest in children and he has hurt a young girl.”

The Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) has confirmed it has received reports of an individual making phone calls, but only from female councillors; indicating that this behaviour appears to be a targeted campaign of harassment against women serving in local government.

The matter has been reported to An Garda Síochána, who have advised that it is closely monitoring the situation.

While Mayor Barron says the call has not made her fearful of her safety because “this is just one eejit looking for notoriety”, she is aware that Wexford County Council (WCC) provides €10,000 to safeguard councillor’s homes if required.

“A local sergeant has come out to my house and evaluated it for security and crime prevention,” she says. “He said I definitely need electric gates. I said, ‘no one’s going to come near me, I’m not that interesting’.

“He said, ‘Vicky, it’s not about that, this is available because it can happen. It might be you or your family, someone could turn up’.”

And although she is happy to have her contact details online, the Mayor does question whether it’s necessary for the addresses of public representatives to be readily available to the public.

“I know of councillors who’ve had people turn up at their door. Previously a number of councillors had their names and addresses circulated on X saying we support immigrants and IPAS centres - and I’m absolutely proud to take that stance - I would rather stand and face them and say ‘you will not put me off or make me afraid’.

“But I appreciate not everyone feels the same as me and there are people who are genuinely afraid.”

Since entering politics, Mayor Barron has been keen to promote female participation in what remains a male-dominated sphere. And she hopes incidents like this will not deter would-be councillors from joining her in County Hall.

“I don’t think you’d get sexually graphic calls coming to male councillors, they’d tend to receive more aggressive calls. But I don’t want this is to be a setback for women.

“You’d almost be reluctant to report it because you’re giving them air-time, that’s what this person wants; but we do want him caught and we want him to stop.”

Housing Minister James Browne TD served as a councillor in Enniscorthy prior to being elected to Dáil Éireann and he said he was “genuinely appalled” by the targeting of female elected members.

“We are genuinely proud in this country that our councillors and Oireachtas members make themselves so available and so contactable at all hours, across social platforms, by phone and in person,” said Minister Browne.

“Councillors are the very visible and immediate presence of our democracy in every village, town and city and they are often personally known by many of their constituents.

“Our councillors engage with people in crisis on an often daily basis, and are often one of the first calls people make when they or a loved one is in trouble or needs assistance. They act not just as signposts to key services, but every day they help families negotiate our public services and advocate for supports that they need.”

“In doing so, elected reps are a critical part of making sure that local and national Government is doing its job for our people. We all want that to continue.

“Any behaviour like this cannot be tolerated, or normalised in any fashion.”