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'Incredibly important' abuse is tackled - Little-Pengelly

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent
PA Media Emma Little-Pengelly is mid-speech as she is photographed. She is standing in front of a blue background with the Northern Ireland Executive logo on it. She has long, dark hair and she is wearing a blue suit jacket, a pearl necklace and pearl earrings.PA Media
The deputy first minister spoke about the incident during question time in the assembly on Monday

The Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has said it is "incredibly important" that abuse against politicians is tackled after a man was prosecuted for threatening to kill her.

Aaron Thomas Curragh, 34, of Whincroft Road in Belfast, last week pleaded guilty to a charge brought against him through the 2023 Online Safety Act.

Curragh had previously been convicted of attacking the office of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Joanne Bunting.

Last week a court hearing heard Curragh had sent a message to Little-Pengelly via the social media platform X "which conveyed a threat of death or harm".

The legislation the charge was brought through makes platforms including social media legally responsible for protecting people in the UK from illegal content and content that disproportionately affects women and girls.

'Important' matter

Speaking in the assembly on Monday, Little-Pengelly said she was pleased that there had been a prosecution and that Curragh would be sentenced shortly.

"It is incredibly important the courts take these matters seriously, it requires all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder to say it's wrong," she added.

"I don't want any woman or girl to face abuse online to the point they don't want to get into politics or rather step back."