Garda investigating claims Councillor’s Facebook page was hacked

GARDAI are investigating after a Lucan-based councillor has claimed he was being blackmailed by computer hackers who threatened to post “lewd doctored” images to his Facebook account.

Fianna Fáil councillor Ed O’Brien took to his Facebook page recently to announce that due to hacking of his account he was temporarily taking his page down.

 

He wrote: “Threats to put doctored lewd images unless I pay sizeable sums of money to an account have forced this action.

“The matter is being investigated by the local Garda and I thank them for their assistance this morning.

“I would encourage all users to be vigilant in accepting friend requests from persons unknown to you even if they have shared friends or contacts.

“I look forward to engaging again once I have set up a new page”.

Mr O’Brien serves the Lucan and Palmerstown area on South Dublin County Council and has been a councillor since 2013. He also works as a solicitor.

The Echo were unable to contact Cllr O’Brien before we went to press.