Former election candidate to face trial over producing slash hook as a weapon

Tom Tuite

A former general election candidate who denies producing a slash hook as a weapon during a dispute with a work crew in Dublin will face a District Court trial in July.

Businessman Brian Garrigan (57), who unsuccessfully ran as an independent candidate in 2020 but wants to be elected in this year’s council elections, was accused of engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour under the Public Order Act, a weapons offence for the production of a slash-hook during a dispute, and criminal damage to freshly laid tarmac.

The incident allegedly occurred at Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin, on October 22nd.

Mr Garrigan, who is the owner of an IT recovery and computer repair business, has firmly maintained his innocence.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him and appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday to get a date for his non-jury trial.

Judge John Hughes said he would hear his case on July 10th.

Mr Garrigan’s website and social media say he has donated more than 550 free computers to various causes to help Syrian and Ukrainian families, Temple Street Hospital, as well as suicide, homeless, and addiction charities.

He has announced on X, formerly Twitter, that he intends to run in the local elections for Dublin Central “to put Irish lives first”, with a photo of him holding an “Irish Lives Matter” poster.

During his run for the Dáil, he secured 588 votes, including transfers, in the Dublin Bay North constituency and was eliminated in the fourth round of counting.

Mr Garrigan, of Fairview Corner, Dublin 3, had canvassed on various issues, including immigration, health, the climate emergency, housing and gender equality.