FG councillor faces disciplinary hearing over ‘Sharia law’ claim

A Fine Gael councillor who claimed Sharia law is “operating in Ireland” is being called before the party’s disciplinary committee over his social media posts.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and party colleagues have moved to distance themselves from the comments of Brian Murphy, a member of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

“Sharia Law is operating in Ireland and most of the political class either do not know or do not care. It is a subversion of our legal system,” Mr Murphy tweeted on Tuesday.

On Monday he tweeted: “Future generations of Europeans will inherit countries more divided, more dangerous and packed full of terrorists. They have been betrayed.”

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Mr Murphy, who represents the Dundrum electoral area, also called for “visible armed police” outside Leinster House, “due to the very real danger we unfortunately now face”.

Mr Varadkar said on Thursday he wanted to disassociate himself and the Fine Gael party from Mr Murphy’s messages.

“They do not represent the policies views or values of the Fine Gael party,” he said. “The party at executive council level will take any necessary action that needs to be taken by them and he’ll be informed of that in due course.”

Disciplinary hearing

A Fine Gael spokesman said the matter was being referred to the party’s disciplinary committee and a hearing date would be set.

Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, chair of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council, has offered to meet Mr Murphy to discuss the matter.

Fine Gael Senator Neale Richmond said he “wholeheartedly” disagreed with Mr Murphy’s comments, “and I’ve argued with him on this”.

Mr Murphy could not be reached for comment.

In his profile on the Fine Gael website, Mr Murphy says he is 25 years old and has been living in Goatstown for the past nine years.

He says he is currently employed in “accounting/tax consultancy” after studying business management and Dublin Institute of Technology and International Business at the UCD Smurfit Business School.

Describing himself as “passionate about sport”, he says he has a long involvement in voluntary tennis coaching of children and teenagers from all social backgrounds.

“Every person and group has a valuable contribution to make. I hope to have the opportunity to speak with you soon,” his message concludes.