Sinn F茅in leader Mary Lou McDonald reports death threat

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, Mary Lou McDonald says she has reported a 'blatant' threat to her life

Sinn F茅in leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she has reported a "sinister" threat to her life to police.

"Last night a threat to kill me was issued online,"

"The individual said he would shoot me dead."

She added the threat "represents an escalation of targeted online abuse" towards her over the last year.

"It is totally unacceptable," she added. "I have reported this to An Garda S铆och谩na (Irish police force)."

The claim "was made to take my life, it was as blatant and blunt as that", she told Irish broadcaster RT脡.

Ms McDonald said the individual also "made a threat against a senior member of An Garda S铆och谩na" - understood by 大象传媒 News NI to refer to Commissioner Drew Harris.

"May I say that is completely unacceptable and I expect that matter will be dealt with as well," Ms McDonald added.

TikTok said it had removed the video from the platform.

In a statement given to RT脡, An Garda S铆och谩na said it is "aware of footage posted to social media on Tuesday, 16 July 2024. An Garda S铆och谩na is investigating this matter".

, Ms McDonald said there was a "vicious, sexist, misogynistic" campaign.

She said that these threatening acts "cannot stand" and that they play no part of political conversation.

"I鈥檓 no shrinking violet, I鈥檓 not a bit precious about people making all manners of commentary, but I鈥檓 drawing the line, I鈥檝e had enough of it quite frankly, I鈥檓 upset by it naturally.

"It鈥檚 clearly not going to put my off doing my job and carrying out my democratic function and representing people to the best of my ability," she added.

Irish Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, supported Ms McDonald saying she "strongly condemned the threat".

"Threats of any nature should never be tolerated in our democracy," she added.