Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman speaking to the media at Dublin Castle(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Dublin salesman admits assaulting Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman

by · Irish Mirror

A salesman has admitted assaulting Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman while he was canvassing for the general election.

Karl Ronan, 45, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Blanchardstown District Court in west Dublin earlier this morning.

Mr Ronan faced three charges when he appeared in front of Judge David McHugh - and pleaded guilty to them all through his solicitor, Tertius van Eeden.

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Mr Ronan, with an address at Erris Square, Waterville, Blanchardstown, was accused of assaulting Minister O’Gorman there on Saturday evening. That is contrary to section two of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act of 1997.

He was also charged with a public order offence on the same date. He was alleged to have used or engaged in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned. That is contrary to section Six of the Public Order Act of 1994.

The third charge was that on the same date he damaged a clipboard belonging to Minister O’Gorman. That is contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act of 1991.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Father of two Mr Ronan, wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a white T-shirt, said nothing during this morning’s short hearingGarda Joseph Rodgers of Blanchardstown Station told Judge McHugh he arrested Mr Ronan at 11.36pm on Saturday.

The court heard Mr Ronan was charged after midnight on Sunday. “He made no reply to the charge after caution,” Garda Rodgers said.

Defence solicitor Mr Van Eeden said Mr Ronan was pleading guilty to the charges. Judge McHugh then said the injured party - Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Roderic O’Gorman - should be given an opportunity to either attend the court or send a letter on his behalf.

He adjourned the case for sentencing to December 17. The court heard Mr Ronan works as a salesman and earns around €600 a week. He was granted legal aid. The court also heard Mr Ronan had a mortgage of some €1,500 a month. There was no objection to bail which was granted to Mr Ronan's own bond of €100.

But as part of his bail conditions, Judge McHugh ordered that Mr Ronan have no contact by any means with Mr O’Gorman. He also ordered that Mr Ronan make no comment online and in social media about the case. A section two assault is a minor offence, but still carries a maximum jail term of one year.

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