A PRESIDENTIAL candidate for Dublin's prestigious Trinity College has been reported for sexual harassment.
Trinity News has reported that Sean Ryan, a candidate in the Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) sabbatical officer elections, has been reported to the Junior Dean, Professor Tim Trimble, for sexual harassment.
The complaint related to a series of messages and Snapchats sent to a woman over 2016 and 2017.
Messages sent over Facebook Messenger include “I want a blowjob” and “Any chance of a blowjob today?” Other messages include: “Your [sic] not fat. Your [sic] gorge. My gut instinct is to send a dick pic right now,” to which the woman replied “i [sic] think youre [sic] joking i [sic] sincerely hope you are”.
Other unsolicited Snapchats show Ryan nude with the caption “grand line from my chest to my balls” and another with the caption “when u [sic] sending me nudes?”
A different message regarded a party that the woman was hosting to which Ryan was not invited, where Ryan asked: “Are we black? Why aren’t me and [friend’s name] invited?”
Other messages seen by Trinity News show numerous sexual jokes made towards the woman’s sister.
Another Snapchat sent unsolicited to a different woman reads, “lick my balls and call me Mr President”.
In response to a request for comment by Trinity News, Sean Ryan said: “I have not sexually harassed anyone and am on my way to the Junior Dean’s office now to say that you have said this to me – the Junior Dean has not contacted me in relation to this so you couldn’t do a story like this.”
TCDSU Education Officer Alice MacPherson said: “The Students’ Union takes allegations like this very seriously. Schedule 3 of the Constitution makes clear that all candidates must uphold the College’s Dignity and Respect policy. If it is found that the Dignity and Respect policy has been breached by any candidate, the Electoral Commission will investigate and act accordingly. I have contacted the Junior Dean’s office and will work closely with them in so far as is appropriate in the resolution of this matter.”
A spokesperson for the Junior Dean did not respond to a request for comment.
Sean Ryan was on the campaign team of last year’s Presidential candidate Bryan Mallon, who was criticised for sexist tweets during last year’s campaign.
