Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae was recovering in hospital on Wednesday evening after being assaulted in Dublin city centre.
The attack has been widely condemned by TDs across the political spectrum, raising further concerns about the security of public representatives.
Healy-Rae sustained at least one blow to the head and was cut in the face in Wednesday’s attack, which happened just after 4pm near the Coombe hospital in the south inner city. He was in his car at the time – a white Skoda with “Michael Healy-Rae” signage on it.
The TD’s son, Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae jnr, said his father was verbally abused by a passerby and was then assaulted by a man who punched him through the open window of the car.
READ MORE
“He was cut all right. He is in hospital now getting stitches,” said the councillor, who had spoken to his father by phone from Kerry.
Asked on Wednesday evening if his father was being kept overnight, or being monitored for concussion, he said he did not know at this stage as he was still in the emergency department.
He said his father had been shaken and shocked by the experience.
Gardaí were quickly on the scene and offered assistance to the former minister of State. He was taken to Kevin Street Garda station initially, with paramedics called.
Gardaí believe that the attack, on Cork Street, was spur-of-the-moment and that the person who assaulted Healy-Rae was not part of any protest group in the area at the time.
The assailant fled the scene, with unconfirmed reports locally that he was walking a dog at the time.
Appealing for witnesses, gardaí confirmed an assault took place without naming Healy-Rae. They said: “It is understood that a male motorist in his late 50s was approached and assaulted by a lone male while stopped in traffic. No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing.”
Gardaí were hoping to take an initial statement of complaint from the TD on Wednesday, with a full investigation already under way.
Gardaí are likely to carry out a forensic examination of Healy-Rae’s car in an attempt to link the attacker to the crime scene.
CCTV from the area was also being harvested in a bid to isolate the attacker in footage in the area and confirm his identity.
[ Who are the Healy-Raes? A guide to Ireland’s biggest political dynastyOpens in new window ]
Michael Healy-Rae’s brother, Danny Healy-Rae, referred in the Dáil to the incident, saying: “My brother was assaulted in the car and it’s not on.”
He was “just doing his work, or wherever he was going, and stopped on the road and someone hit him in the window. I hope he’ll be all right.”
Such things “shouldn’t happen to public representatives. We get elected to help people and not to hurt them, and if we can’t do right by everyone, it’s tough. We can’t please everyone. We’re doing our best. It’s unfair to hit a fellow in the window without being able to defend himself. I hope he’ll be all right before morning and that he’ll be out again tomorrow.”
Earlier, Danny Healy-Rae said that TDs were operating in a very different world. “It’s not like it was in years gone by. Now, when you come into Leinster House at eight in the morning, there are barriers up.”
Other TDs also condemned the attack, with Tánaiste Simon Harris saying: “I’ve spoken to Michael Healy-Rae and sent him my best wishes for a full recovery. There is absolutely no place for violence or intimidation in our democracy. Every citizen, including every public representative, has the right to go about their work and their life without fear.”
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy said she was “deeply shocked” to learn of the assault.
“On hearing the news, I contacted him and was heartened to hear that he is in good spirits ... This is a very serious and extremely concerning development. As Ceann Comhairle, I condemn violence against any elected representative.”
The attack comes a day after a public order incident at the National Ploughing Championships during which a man was arrested in a confrontation with gardaí trying to approach Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
It is understood the man was arrested for an alleged attempted assault on Tuesday.
Gardaí said no one was injured in the incident and that a man in his 60s has since been charged and released to appear before a sitting of the District Court at a later date.
