THE DATA Protection Commissioner is investigating a complaint against independent polltopper Damian O’Farrell over an election mailing sent to elderly recipients of home help services.
Mr O’Farrell, who received the highest vote of any candidate in Dublin in the local elections, wrote to clients of Clontarf Home Care Services before the election, seeking their support.
In the letter, he stated that he was a member of the management committee of Clontarf Home Care Services and said that the primary reason he was standing for election was the Government’s treatment of senior citizens.
“It is my intention to gain a seat on Dublin City Council where my primary concern will be to represent the views of senior citizens,” he wrote in the letter to clients of the centre.
His action prompted the complaint by political rival Gerry Breen, of Fine Gael, who said a number of elderly residents had expressed their unhappiness about the letter to him.
“It is of concern to me that any database would be used in this manner, especially a database of mostly elderly and possibly vulnerable residents,” Mr Breen said.
Mr O’Farrell, who has served as campaign manager for independent TD Finian McGrath, said he would be making no apologies for the mailing but added: “If there’s a problem I’ll take my medicine”.
He claimed the complaint was politically motivated and said his success had inspired considerably jealousy in established political circles.
Roslyn Clohessy, of Clontarf Home Care Services, which is a non-profit body funded by the HSE and voluntary contributions, said it was suffering major cutbacks and could do with any help it got.
“We’re locally based in the community, we’re fighting a battle and no one is helping us.”
Mr O’Farrell had been invited to become involved on the management committee and had accepted, unlike another politician who hadn’t even replied.
She said she didn’t know how Mr O’Farrell came to send the letter to the agency’s clients.
