Man accused of assaulting Roderic O'Gorman pleads guilty

Tom Tuite

A salesman has admitted assaulting Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman, breach of the peace and damaging his clipboard during an election canvas at the weekend.

The incident happened on Saturday while the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth went door-to-door around the Erris Square, Waterville area in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin.

Karl Ronan, 45, who has an address at Erris Square, appeared before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court on Monday.

He was remanded on bail pending his December 17th sentence hearing.

Gardaí were directed to check if O’Gorman, who was not present for the hearing, wished to provide a victim impact statement, which the judge said was at “the centre of the sentencing procedure”.

Ronan, a married father-of-two, was charged with three offences arising from the incident and did not address the court.

However, immediately after the judge heard evidence of arrest, charge, and caution, defence solicitor Tertius Van Eeeden told Judge McHugh that his client was pleading guilty.

Mr Ronan was accused of a minor assault on the politician and criminal damage to his clipboard, and the third charge was under the Public Order Act for engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether he might cause a breach of the peace.

Garda Joseph Rogers told the court the accused “made no reply” to the charges.

The assault and breach of the peace offences, each carrying a maximum six-month sentence, can only be dealt with at the District Court level.

Judge McHugh noted the DPP directed that the criminal damage allegation would also dealt with in the District Court, where that charge can carry a maximum one-year sentence.

“There is a guilty plea,” the defence told the court, which has yet to hear the full facts of the case.

Judge McHugh said,“The victim should be at least told about this development", adding that he had to be contacted and invited to address the court or send a letter for consideration.

The investigating garda asked the judge to impose bail conditions on Ronan: no commenting about the case or contacting the injured party.

The judge acceded to the request and warned Ronan to have no contact with Mr O’Gorman, directly or indirectly, including by a third party or social media, and added that the terms were to be “strictly interpreted”.

Judge McHugh noted the accused had a €600 a week income, a family and €1,500 mortgage but refused his legal aid application.