Dublin man, 45, pleads guilty to assault of politician during General Election canvass

A Dublin man has pleaded guilty to the assault of Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman.

Karl Ronan, of Erris Square, Waterville in Blanchardstown appeared before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court on Monday morning.

The incident happened on Saturday afternoon (November 2) when Mr. O’Gorman, 42, called to a doorstep in Blanchardstown during a canvass ahead of the general election.

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth was not hurt during the incident.

An armed female Garda protection officer, who had been shadowing the politician, intervened.

Green Party leader and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of Ireland Roderic O'Gorman. (RollingNews.ie)

Charge

Mr. Ronan has been charged following the section 2 assault as well as for use or engagement in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

The Dubliner has also been charged with causing damage to property - a clipboard - belonging to Mr. O’Gorman.

Garda Joseph Rogers gave evidence of Ronan’s arrest, charge, and caution. The Garda said Ronan made no reply when the charges were put to him.

Defence solicitor Tertius Van Eeden said that his client was pleading guilty to all three charges.

Judge McHugh said Mr O’Gorman would have to be contacted and asked if he wanted to address the court or write a letter about the incident, which would be considered by the court.

As a result, the case was put back a few weeks to allow for the politician to be contacted.

The accused was granted bail on his own bond of €100 and was told not to contact Mr. O’Gorman, either directly or indirectly, or make a comment about the case online.

He warned that the bail terms were to be "interpreted strictly."

"Unacceptable"

An Taoiseach Simon Harris said the incident was "unacceptable and cannot be tolerated in a modern democracy," adding: "I have spoken to Minister O’Gorman. I am so glad to hear he is OK and back out canvassing."

The Fine Gael leader added that "it is important to state the overwhelming majority of people are fundamentally decent."

Mr O’Gorman said he was grateful to a Garda protection officer who intervened. The minister, who provided a statement to Gardaí, said the "alarming incident" had marred an otherwise positive canvass.

Protection

Government ministers had armed Garda protection reinstated more than two years ago due to increased fears that members of the Cabinet could be targeted.

Protection had been taken away from most ministers in 2011 due to budget cuts but was brought back in October 2022.

*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.