Elected members of the Municipal District of Newcastle West have agreed to send a letter of support to Minister Patrick O’Donovan | Kieran Ryan-Benson

ELECTED members of the Municipal District of Newcastle West have agreed to send a letter of support to Minister Patrick O’Donovan.

At their November meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Michael Collins hit back at “vile comments” posted on social media in the wake of Mr O’Donovan’s hospitalisation last month.

Cllr Collins said: “Patrick has done absolutely trojan work in his career and for the country. He has climbed to a very high level of Government.”

He continued: “I propose that we write to him from this committee giving our support and well wishes. He was formerly a member when he was elected back in 2003 and was a colleague of many here.”

The minister was hospitalised on Tuesday, October 13, after he suffered a medical emergency at a meeting of the European Union telecommunications ministers at the University of Limerick.

After the district meeting, while reflecting on the public discourse surrounding the minister’s medical condition, Cllr Collins strongly condemned abusive online comments questioning his suitability for the role.

“Politics can be difficult at any stage but when someone is sick and they are not in the best of health, I think it is very unfair of keyboard warriors to have a go at somebody. Some of the comments were absolutely vile. I wouldn’t condone them at all.

“I was ill myself back in 2022 so I know what its like to not be in the best of health and really politics just doesn’t come into it. Your health is number one and the wellbeing of yourself and your family,” he stated.

Cathaoirleach Liam Galvin supported the proposal, saying: “As chairperson of the municipal district and as a colleague that was elected with him we want to send our well wishes. I have to say he and his office has been most supportive, I say this with the best of respect, he’s a massive massive addition to county Limerick. What he has given to Limerick since his election to the Dáil and as a minister – we cannot summarise it. While as minister for sport, the money he contributed to the sports clubs around is phenomenal. We want to wish him well and I am saying that with the utmost sincerity.”

He continued: “We are going to write to Patrick and his wife to wish him a speedy recovery. He has to prioritise himself and his family first and foremost. Take his time, get well and hopefully we’ll see him back in action sooner rather than later.”

After the meeting, Cllr Jerome Scanlon commended the minister for his work in West Limerick, saying, “He has pulled out all the stops over the years for Newcastle West and Limerick.”

He continued, “His heath is the most important thing so it has to be treated as his number one priority.”

In regards to the online discourse, Cllr Scanlan said, “One must handle themselves in a certain way and that can only start with the person themself.”

Mr O’Donovan is currently recovering at home and there is no current timeline for his return to work.