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Mayor subjected to online 'campaign of disinformation'

Mike McBride
BBC News NI
BBC Seenoi Barr seen in a red suit and mayoral chain. Claire Hanna is standing to her left-hand sideBBC
Seenoi Barr says she will not be deterred from carrying out her duties as mayor

The leader of the SDLP has condemned a "deliberate campaign of disinformation and smearing" directed towards the mayor of Derry City and Strabane.

Speaking on Wednesday, Claire Hanna said online abuse of Lilian Seenoi Barr in recent weeks had both "implied and very direct racist undertones".

Hanna said the abuse comes after a man was jailed last month for posting abusive messages online toward Seenoi Barr.

Seenoi Barr, who was born in Kenya and became the first black mayor in Northern Ireland last year, said the past week has been "deeply distressing".

She said she has reported the abuse to police and reassessed her security.

In a statement, police said they received a report on 24 February in relation to online posts and commentary.

"Enquiries are ongoing, and will continue to be reviewed to identify any potential offences," the police said.

Derry City and Strabane area commander Ch Supt Gillian Kearney said the police will "continue to work with and support the mayor to ensure she feels safe in her workplace".

"To that end, we are working with Derry City and Strabane District Council to provide reassurance," the senior officer added.

'Deeply distressing'

Lilian Seenoi Barr and Claire Hanna, flanked by party colleagues, addressed a press conference in Derry's Guildhall on Wednesday.

"The past week has been deeply distressing seeing lies, disinformation and malicious attacks spread about me, simply because of my firm and reasoned commitment to fighting racism and injustice in our society," Seenoi Barr said.

"I want to be very clear, I will not be deterred by name-calling, the smearing of my character and certainly not by online attacks by those who offer nothing constructive to society."

The mayor said she has also been humbled by the support that she has received in the wake of "malicious smearing and lies".

Lilian Seenoi Barr is standing in front of microphones at a podium and surrounded by party colleagues like Mark H Durkan and Claire Hanna
Lilian Seenoi Barr was joined by SDLP leader Claire Hanna and party colleagues at a press conference in the Guildhall

She said the attacks are "rooted in prejudice" and believes she has been targeted because of her ethnicity and background.

"I am a Maasai woman and a Derry Girl," she said.

Seenoi Barr said she is proud to call Derry her home and that the abuse she has received will not deter her from carrying out her duties as mayor.

"Whether people like it or not I have earned my position as mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council," she said.

Seenoi Barr said such online attacks can deter people from ethnic minority backgrounds aspiring to hold public office "if serious action is not taken".

"This is a city I am proud to represent and proud to call my home - it will not stand for division or racism."

In a statement, Ch Supt Kearney said any abuse, harassment or criminality directed at our elected representatives "is totally unacceptable and will be thoroughly investigated".

"We will continue to do all we can to ensure that our elected representatives are supported, and they can undertake their role free from abuse, harassment and intimidation," she added.