Aisling O’Loughlin brands Healy Raes ‘traitors’ for speaking at Kerry mosque

The 45-year-old anti-vaxxer posted the video clip of Deputy Michael Healy Rae as he speaks to the local Muslim community with the hashtags “roguegovernment”, “votethemout, and “traitors”.

She also posted under the video: “The Healey (sic) Raes welcome the plantation and replacement of the Irish on their own soil.”

In the video Michael Healy-Rae addresses those gathered in the Mosque in Kerry as he thanks them for “having children in our county”

“They will be the fabric of this town and this county,” Deputy Healy Rae says.

“And I appreciate that very much, if you hadn’t made the decision to come here and rare your families here we would have been denied the right of having those children in this county.”

He adds that this is “so important because the more people that we can have, the better. And they’re very nice and they’re very respectful and I believe they will play an integral part of our community in the years ahead when none of us adults will be there any more.”

He added that he was “delighted that the mosque here is going so well”, and said it was a “credit to each and every one of you and your families who work so hard and who saved up money because it couldn’t be here only for work and for money.”

Last September, O’Loughlin joined protests outside the Dáil where far-right protesters shouted various chants against transgender rights, migration and planned hate speech laws.

Some 200 people had gathered outside Leinster House ahead of the return of the Dáil session where protestors held signs featuring slogans such as “Irish lives matter” and “Ballybrack says no” as they chanted: “You’ll never beat the Irish.”

Mock gallows featuring a hanging effigy were also held up by the crowd, surrounded by portraits of political leaders including then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.

Thirteen people, 11 men and two women, were arrested over the course of the protests.

O’Loughlin was among the demonstrators outside the Dáil, posing for photos alongside Dr Vincent O’Carroll and anti-migrant activist Derek Blighe.

Taking to her Telegram channel after the protest, she shared some images and footage from the scene with her 10,200 subscribers.

In one snap, O’Loughlin took a selfie with the crowd, where a sign in the background reads ‘Silence replace indigenous Irish’. She captioned the photo: “Traitors out!”

The 45-year-old, who is vocal online about her anti-vax views, also filmed fellow protester Dr Vincent O’Carroll in an interview-style clip at the protest.

“We’re here outside the Dáil giving our TDs a welcome back after the summer recess. I’ve got Dr Vincent Carroll here with me. Dr Carroll, how are you feeling about the turnout today?” she asked.

Dr O’Carroll responded that he was “very happy with the turnout” as he spoke of how the people of Ireland were “rising” against the government.

“People’s moods have changed. If you compare this to one year ago, there’s no comparison. People now are beginning to realise there’s a sense of betrayal,” he said.

“The mood of the country is changing. Politicians need to be aware of that. People need to be aware that we will no longer tolerate what’s been happening for the last couple of years.

“The mood of the nation is changing. The people are rising and I’m very happy with the turnout and it is improving as the minutes roll on.”

Aisling added: “We’re always told protests don’t matter, what does it prove, there’s no point in begging politicians, we don’t need their permission – so what is the point of protests? Why should we turn out?”

Dr O’Carroll continued: “Protests are democracy – direct democracy and action – and that’s very, very important. We’re the voice of the people, we’re the will of the people.

“Politicians are there to serve us so therefore politicians need to know that there’s palpable anger within our nation. There’s a sense of betrayal within our nation. There’s a sense of, ‘This is not good enough’ within our nation and our people are rising and protesting.

“That is the purpose of a protest: to demonstrate that will, the people’s will, the democratic will of the people.”

O’Loughlin also shared a video of Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae being escorted away from Leinster House by gardaí on her Telegram channel.

The mum-of-three condemned protesters who shouted profanities and shoved the politician as he left the Dáil and suggested that there may have been “infiltrators” present.

“I’m a firm believer in peaceful protest. We can convey our message much better with reason and measured tones. We have enough evidence to put forward a very strong case, no need for violence. It’s a total turn-off for middle Ireland and gives ammunition to those who conspire against us,” she wrote.

“I’m trying to figure out if they’re infiltrators purposefully wrecking a peaceful protest to create nasty headlines or if they’re really peeved. It ruins the message we’re trying to convey.

When one of her supporters theorised that the Healy-Rae clip was a “set-up” as cameras were present before he walked out, O’Loughlin agreed: “Something fishy about the whole thing alright, James”.

The protest was advertised on Telegram as a ‘Call to the Dáil’ demonstration, with a makeshift poster reading:

“This is time. We have the god-given right to free speech! We will not be silenced. Have your voice heard.”

Several politicians and staff including Michael Healy-Rae were verbally abused as they were prevented from leaving Leinster House until gardaí escorted a convoy of politicians’ cars out of the gate.

Mr Healy Rae later told Independent.ie: “I come to Dublin to represent the good people of this country.

“Nothing will ever deter me from doing my job.

“I’ve no issue with protesting, never have, never will but you can see the videos circulating and judge for yourselves if that behaviour and use of language is acceptable.”