Cork TD Holly Cairns has spoken out about the abuse faced by women in politics.
The Cork South-West Social Democrats TD revealed how she was absolutely terrified by a stalker who showed up at her home.
The 33-year old said a persistent online stalker turned up at her home and his presence changed everything for her and how she behaved in every single thing.
Speaking on the Virgin Media podcast the Group Chat Holly Cairns says she lives in rural West Cork where she didn't have any kind of security but she has now had to to install CCTV, blinds and locks in her home.
She says the stalking went on for about six months and led to her to take a step back from media for a time as she was worried she was drawing too much attention to herself.
Deputy Cairns says the stalking interfered with her job as she was even advised by Gardai not to run a constituency clinic.
"It wasn't until somebody who started off with messages on my work phone, and then turned up at the house on several occasions. It changed everything for me - I felt then that every message I got was potentially somebody who could turn up to my house.
"I was absolutely terrified. I'm from West Cork - I didn't have a lock on the door. I didn't have blinds, I didn't have any kind of security.
"Now I have CCTV, I have blinds, I have locks, I'm hyper aware.
"The Gardai have advised me that I can't have a constituency clinic advertising where I am, where I could be alone potentially."
