LAST UPDATE | 5 Jan 2023

A GARDA INVESTIGATION is currently underway following a junior minister’s claim that a bag of excrement was thrown at her and a fellow TD yesterday.

Anne Rabbitte, the Minister of State for Disability, posted on social media that she and Fine Gael TD Ciarán Cannon were attending a public meeting in their constituency in Gort, Co Galway when the incident happened.

Speaking on Galway Bay FM this morning, Rabbitte said that when public representatives attend public meetings, certain things can “flare up”, which resulted her and Cannon being on the receiving end of it. 

“When you have a bag, no matter how big or small it is, a bag of manure flung at you, right into your torso, it doesn’t leave you feeling great whatsoever,” she told the station.

The Fianna Fáil TD said she was “very disappointed” that the incident had happened and was fearful when leaving the venue last night after it had occurred. 

“Whatever way you look at it, a person at a meeting yesterday assaulted two public government representatives, representing their constituency who were there in good faith,” she added. 

She said the person who threw the manure was not removed from the meeting and continued to remain at the venue for the rest of the evening.

‘I wasn’t able to put words together’

Rabbitte said she wasn’t in a position to speak when her turn came as she felt her legs “were taken right out from under” her. “I wasn’t able to put words together at that point,” she said. 

The TD also said that she took to Twitter to vent her anger at what had happened, stating that it “didn’t feel good”.

Following the meeting, she said she spoke to the organisers and informed gardaí about the incident, as she said the person in question was clearly “incredibly angry and annoyed with myself and Ciaran [Cannon]“.  

“I think we hit a new low,” she said, adding that no matter who anyone is, they do not deserve to have manure thrown at them during a public meeting.

“I only go out to do a days work… I do my days work to represent my constituents as best I can.”

Speaking to the same programme, Cannon called the attack “disturbing”, particularly as the person who threw the manure remained in the room for the period of the entire meeting. He said Rabbitte was closer to the person at the time of the attack, adding that he certainly would not have felt safe had been in such close proximity.

He also claimed that such incidents are happening more regularly in Irish politics, and highlighted how some politicians in the UK are now wearing stab vests to work.

Investigation

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána stated that Gardaí are “investigating all the circumstances relating to an incident that occurred at a public meeting in Gort, Co. Galway, yesterday evening.”

The incident has been widely condemned, including by the local group in Gort which held the meeting to discuss a decision to approve planning for a gas production facility near the town centre. 

The Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East received dozens of messages of support last night, many coming from fellow politicians.

Attended a meeting tonight and a bag of sh.t thrown a me and my government colleague !!!

— Anne Rabbitte TD (@AnneRabbitte) January 4, 2023

Cannon confirmed he was other TD present during the attack. 

On his Twitter account, he posted that the person behind the incident had gone to “the bother of putting excrement (human or animal, yet unknown) into two bags”, throwing “one at me and one at Anne”. 

“All part of the job you might say, but I can understand why fewer people want this job,” he said.

So an idiot goes to the bother of putting excrement (human or animal, yet unknown) into two bags and throws one at me and one at Anne. All part of the job you might say, but I can understand why fewer people want this job. #politics https://t.co/3XS9EvL98y

— Ciaran Cannon (@ciarancannon) January 4, 2023

Fellow junior minister Pippa Hackett said the incident was “disgusting” and added that she hoped the perpetrator would be prosecuted.

“Solidarity with my government colleague @AnneRabbitte, who was doing her job, as she does every day with compassion and commitment. What a disgusting thing to do,” the Green Party senator said.

“We can’t allow anybody be treated like this – I hope the perpetrator is identified and prosecuted.”

Mary Butler, who is also a junior minister, based in the Department of Health, said she was “sickened” from reading Rabbitte’s initial tweet.

“This is appalling behaviour and completely unacceptable. Hope your ok,” she told her party colleague.

Gort BioGas Concern Group, which held last night’s public meeting, said the alleged actions were “wholly unacceptable” and did not reflect the views of its members.

“The meeting was an opportunity for all local residents and groups to voice their concerns about the recent decision of An Bord Pleanála to allow the development of a gas production facility adjoining the centre of the town in the face of fierce public opposition,” it told The Journal in a statement.

“Despite the valuable and forthright exchange of views on the evening, the group is aware that a member of the public reportedly caused a projectile to be launched at public representatives in attendance.

“Gort BioGas Concern Group condemns in the strongest possible terms such an act.

“Such actions are wholly unacceptable in all circumstances and do not reflect or represent the views of the group or the local community.”

The group added that it was grateful for the attendance of Rabbitte and Cannon, and Independent TD Sean Canney, to “hear the views of the local community on this extremely important issue”.

The Journal has attempted to contact Rabbitte for comment and will provide updates as more details emerge.

With reporting from Christina Finn and Jamie McCarron