Councillors urge support for unwell Limerick Minister after online abuse

Fine Gael TD and Minister Patrick O’Donovan was re‑admitted to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) last weekend for treatment of his deep frontal lobe epilepsy, prompting local councillors to call for a letter of support.

O’Donovan, 49, has previously served as a Minister of State in the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure, Reform and Tourism. He was rushed to UHL’s high‑dependency unit on Thursday night, marking the second serious hospitalisation in less than a month.

At the Newcastle West Municipal District meeting, Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Collins condemned “vile comments” posted on social media following the minister’s admission. Collins urged the committee to send a letter of best wishes, noting O’Donovan’s recent role hosting a meeting of EU Telecommunications Ministers at the University of Limerick on 13 October.

Collins highlighted O’Donovan’s rise from councillor to senior government minister and appealed for compassion, stating that online attacks on a person recovering from illness are “not fair” and “not warranted”.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Amine Kübranur Çakıroğlu / Pexels.