'Every politician is a human being' - Kevin 'Boxer' Moran

It will get more difficult to entice people to run for political office if candidates continue to be abused on social media.

That's the view of Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, who regained the Dáil seat he lost in 2020 by running a campaign the old fashioned and completely ignoring social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Speaking at the count centre in TUS Athlone yesterday, Boxer said that the online abuse of politicians has got significantly worse over the last four years.

“It's got harsher. I say to people behind every politician is a human being. It's tough out there and it's tough to get people to put their name forward.

“Some people fall into the trap of answering back [their critics on social media], and it gets worse. People believe what they see on social media.”

He says that people should listen to “mainstream media” when it comes to consuming news.

“Listen to proper news. What you hear and see on social media is what other people want you to hear and people are buying in to it.”

Boxer says that he has one message for online trolls; “put your name on the ballot paper”.

“They don't do it, they feel it's better to attack, attack, attack, but behind a politician you have families, you have kids, and they suffer greatly.

“We went through it. We know all about it. Please, please, please use social media by all means for the good things; for the birthday parties, for the weddings, for the Christmas, that's what it's about, but don't use it to bait someone, because you're hurting them, the pain is felt and it's very, very severe.”