False claim by conspiracy theorist Gemma O’Doherty over councillor’s death is ‘outrageous’

The 40-year-old Meath county councillor, who died tragically last Saturday, was laid to rest on Thursday.

His funeral mass heard how the father-of-one, who was also a stepfather and engaged to be married, had “a special place” in everyone’s hearts.

Last week, a newspaper edited by former journalist turned conspiracy theorist Gemma O’Doherty claimed that his death could have been linked to the Covid vaccine.

The Irish Light released a tweet about Mr O’Reilly under the caption ‘RIP #DiedSuddenly’ alongside a retweeted 2021 post by the Meath councillor, where he had said he was “delighted to be fully vaccinated” and praised the rollout of the Covid vaccine.

The Irish Light and its editor Gemma O’Doherty are already before the High Court for suggesting that a young man who died from suicide lost his life after taking the vaccine.

Alan Lawes, an independent councillor based in Navan Co Meath, has slammed O’Doherty’s publication for suggesting his political colleague’s death was linked to the vaccine.

“This is a time of grief for his family. For this suggestion to be made, which has no basis in truth whatsoever, it is beyond disrespectful. In fact, it’s outrageous. There needs to be repercussions for making a false claim of this nature,” said Mr Lawes, who worked alongside the late councillor in Co Meath.

He described Mr O’Reilly as a “highly respected” colleague, despite their “different political views”.

“I respected him very much. He was a man of integrity and great strength of character. He was a young man taken far too soon from his family.

“For anyone to interfere with his family’s grief in this way, making a claim that has no basis in fact, is unacceptable. I believe in freedom of speech — but to be feeding mistruths in an attempt to leave people in fear is simply unacceptable. There should be repercussions for publishing this falsehood,” he added.

An attempt was made to contact the newspaper for comment.

In June, the mother of a teenager who died by suicide, secured High Court orders restraining Gemma O’Doherty from harassing her.

The orders were granted by Mr Justice Conor Dignam in favour of Edel Campbell, who claims she has been the subject of a campaign of harassment by O’Doherty.

It is alleged that O’Doherty has wrongly and unlawfully used the image of Ms Campbell’s son Diego Gilsenan in an article linking unexplained deaths to Covid vaccines.

Mr Justice Dignam made orders, including ones restraining O’Doherty from harassing Edel Campbell and from publishing her or her late son’s images, or any personal confidential material about them.

O’Doherty is also restrained from encouraging or inciting others to intimidate her.

The court also made orders requiring Gemma O’Doherty to take down and remove any image of Edel Campbell and her late son from any form of media that she owns or operates.

The orders are to remain in place pending the final outcome of Ms Campbell’s action against O’Doherty, trading as the Irish Light.