A protester has been spared a jail sentence but was fined ¤250 for throwing eggs at Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s ministerial BMW. The Tánaiste was attending an event to promote the children’s rights referendum in Ballyfermot, Dublin, on October 5th, when his car was surrounded by protesters. Later that day, protester Dónall Ó Ceallaigh (29), a member of socialist republican group Éirigí, who lives at Harold’s Cross Road, was charged with criminal damage to a 5-Series BMW belonging to An Garda Síochána’s transport section, and breach of the peace.
Judge Catherine Murphy rejected his claims that throwing eggs was an acceptable form of protest.