A protester accused of throwing eggs at Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s ministerial BMW caused no damage but the car had to be cleaned at a cost of €9, a judge was told yesterday.
The matter had been adjourned partly to determine the cost of any damage caused.
On October 5th last, the Tánaiste and Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald were attending an event to promote a Yes vote in the children’s referendum when Mr Gilmore’s car was attacked by protesters at about 11am at the Blackditch Road in Ballyfermot, west Dublin. The event was abandoned and replaced with a reception later at a city centre venue.
Later that day, protester Dónall Ó Ceallaigh (28), Harold’s Cross Road, Dublin 6, was charged with criminal damage to a five-series BMW car, property of An Garda Síochána’s transport section, and breach of the peace. He appeared again at the same court yesterday. In an outline of the allegations, Judge Victor Blake was told that “eggs were thrown at the car”.
The judge was also told that there was no damage caused to the car, but it had to be washed at a cost of €9. Judge Blake accepted jurisdiction, meaning the case will stay in the District Court and not be sent to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.
