The trial of a man for allegedly throwing eggs at Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s ministerial BMW, which was cleaned at a cost of €9, has been delayed for seven weeks.
On October 5th last, the Tánaiste was attending an event to promote the children’s rights referendum when his car was allegedly attacked by protesters at about 11am at the Blackditch Road, in Ballyfermot, in west Dublin. Seventy children were in the The Base, a childcare centre, for a Unicef event in support of a Yes vote.
Mr Gilmore was with Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald and had been due to attend but he abandoned the event after the alleged incident.
A demonstration was staged following reports that the Government plans to cut children’s allowance payments in the upcoming Budget.
Later that day, Dónall Ó Ceallaigh (28), who lives at Harold’s Cross Road, Dublin 6, was charged with criminal damage to a 5-series BMW belonging to An Garda Síochána’s transport section, and with a breach of the peace.
Dublin District Court has heard that no damage was caused to the ministerial car but it had to be cleaned at a cost of €9.
Mr Ó Ceallaigh has pleaded not guilty to both charges and his District Court trial was due to be heard today.
However, when the case was called Judge Catherine Murphy was told that Mr Ó Ceallaigh’s barrister had been unable to attend court due to a bereavement.
Judge Murphy adjourned the case for seven weeks but held that the hearing would have to proceed on its next date before the court. The State is to call three witnesses to give evidence for the prosecution.
It was Mr Ó Ceallaigh sixth court appearance on these charges. He was remanded on continuing bail and had earlier agreed to obey a condition “to stay away from public events where Government ministers are in attendance”.