Gardaí hopes to charge a vaccine campaigner who has made threats against the young family of a prominent figure Fine Gael politician.
The suspect, who is in his 40s and a businessman, has already been arrested and questioned over a campaign of abuse against Co Longford-based Senator Micheál Carrigy.
As part of the long-running investigation, officers at Granard Garda station seized a telephone and other electronic devices.
Senior sources say the suspect would have been in contact with the politician for more than three months, and Gardaí is confident he can bring a harassment charge to the courts.
“It appears this started late last year as social media abuse of the senator’s stance on how Covid was regulated,” a senior source said last night.
“This then spread to threatening text messages and then sinister threats against the man’s family and even references to his young children.
“He lodged a complaint with Gardaí in February and the matter was quickly resolved as there were indications that the matter was escalating.”
As part of their detailed investigation, Gardaí had to consult external senior lawyers before submitting a file to the DPP.
When contacted for comment, Senator Carrigy confirmed the matter was under investigation, saying “This is now in the hands of the Gardaí”. He then said he didn’t want to talk about the case.
Gardaí has made very significant progress in their investigation after analyzing several devices seized after the suspect’s arrest in February, the Irish independent has learned.
The man is considered an outspoken social media campaigner against the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The man from Co Longford is said to have assaulted and threatened Senator Carrigy over Christmas.
“What was said to the senator was simply unacceptable and criminal in nature,” said a senior source. “When his family got involved, he got the gardaí involved and things seem to have stabilized since then.
“We’re not talking about a criminal mastermind here. All allegedly abusive texts were sent from that person’s own cell phone, which has been fully investigated.”
Sources said the criminal harassment campaign has taken a heavy toll on Senator Carrigy and his family.
A survey was published early this year showing that many Irish politicians are victims of threatening or lewd anonymous letters and phone calls.