THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF whip Hildegarde Naughton has told a court she was “frightened” for her personal safety and had to reassess her movements after she was allegedly subjected to threats online.

Naughton was giving evidence today at Galway District Court at the hearing of a case against Daragh O’Flaherty.

O’Flaherty (47), with an address at 28 New Estate, Clarinbridge, Co Galway denies committing offences contrary to Section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.

In the case, it is alleged that on 9 January and 10 January 2024, Daragh O’Flaherty did distribute or publish a threatening or grossly offensive communication about Hildegarde Naughton, with intent to cause harm.

Two further charges allege that on 9 January and 10 January, O’ Flaherty did distribute or publish a threatening or grossly offensive communication about Fine Gael Senator, Seán Kyne, with intent to cause harm.

In her evidence, Naughton said that on 11 January, she received a WhatsApp message from Seán Kyne with a video allegedly made by O’Flaherty and advising her to be careful.

Naughton was asked about a video posted on 10 January, in which a man alleged to be O’Flaherty, says if it’s six stitches for him, then it’s six stitches for a number of named Galway politicians, including Naughton.

O’Flaherty has alleged during the hearing that he received the stitches because he was assaulted by gardaí in Dublin.

Asked by prosecuting barrister, Geri Silke BL, how she felt after seeing the video, Deputy Naughton said: “I was frightened and worried for my own personal safety and I had to reassess my movements and the movements of my staff.”

She said she took the alleged threats “extremely seriously” and decided not to attend an event in Galway Cathedral due to fear for her safety and the safety of the public.

It is alleged that in a video posted online on 9 January, a man alleged to be O’Flaherty said he was coming to Galway and a number of Galway politicians, including Naughton, “are going to need the police, you’re going to need the ambulance and you are probably going to need the fire brigade”.

Asked about her reaction, Naughton said: “I was very shaken. I didn’t feel safe going about my daily, ordinary life.”

The Fine Gael TD said she had concerns, felt unsafe and recalled “scanning the room” for anyone suspicious when she attended public meetings.

Under cross-examination from O’Flaherty, Naughton was asked about the stitches comment and why she felt fear.

She said: “The fact you said you had stitches on your face and you were going to cause me to have stitches also”.

O’Flaherty said that comment was not specifically made about Naughton, who replied that that is how she interpreted the comments.

O’Flaherty asked Naughton about a number of matters including: the possible effects of the Covid-19 vaccine on gardaí; the impact of climate change on excess mortality in Ireland; the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines; the blood products scandal; the number of reported vaccine injuries; vaccine passports; the South African government’s vaccine policy: Pfizer pharmaceuticals.

In reply to one question, Naughton said Covid-19 was a “global emergency” and the Irish government had done its best in a very challenging situation.

O’Flaherty put it to Naughton the fear she felt was not a result of the videos but of the public’s response to the government’s handling of Covid-19.

Naughton said the fear she felt was a “direct result” of the videos.

“I am fearful for my own personal safety. That is why I am here in court today,” she added.

On a number of occasions, Judge Patricia Cronin told the accused he must keep his questions relevant to the case before the court.

Judge Cronin told O’Flaherty she had asked him on “five or six occasions” not to talk over the court.

O’Flaherty was also told not to interrupt the witness when she is attempting to answer questions.

Judge Cronin also warned O’Flaherty she would consider holding him in contempt of court if he continued to interrupt the court.

The judge rose for a brief period after O’Flaherty said “hold on now” after being asked to move on to another question.

When the case resumed, O’Flaherty apologised and said he was under a lot of pressure with the case.

Judge Cronin said that even though the comment was contemptuous, the court would not proceed with contempt even though the court was not shown respect.

At the outset of the case, detective garda John Kerrigan of Galway garda station, said he was assigned to investigate the matter after Catherine Connolly TD notified gardaí of messages posted online.

Kerrigan said Deputy Connolly notified gardaí of the existence of a video showed on the X platform and the video allegedly contained threats against elected representatives in the Galway area.

Kerrigan said that through his enquiries, he became aware of a Telegram channel in which a man alleged to be Mr O’Flaherty posted a number of videos.

Two of those videos, from 9 and 10 January, were played in court.

In the 9 January video, a man alleged to be Daragh O’Flaherty said he wanted to address the gardaí, stating “my natural rights comes from God, not the government, you need to know this” and “natural rights supersede acts of law”.

The man also states there was no emergency and no pandemic.

He says it was a “fake pandemic” “to do with the acquisition of power and nothing to do with the common good”.

He goes on to say that he was going to Galway and if he was not happy with answers from a number of named politicians to questions on the Covid-19 vaccine, including Deputy Naughton and Senator Kyne, “you are going to need the police, you are going to need the ambulance and you are probably going to need the fire brigade”.

In a second Telegram video, the man alleged to be O’Flaherty refers to six stitches on his face.

He says that if its six stitches for him, then it’s six stitches for a number of politicians, including both alleged victims.

Seán Kyne

In his evidence, Seán Kyne told the court he first became aware of the video he was scrolling through X.

He said he sent a copy of the video onto Oireachtas colleagues in Galway, advising them to bring it to the attention of their staff.

Asked about O’Flaherty’s alleged stitches comment, Kyne said: “Well clearly you don’t get stitches unless you get a cut of some type and I took it as a threat against me.”

He said he felt a threat was being made against him and that O’Flaherty was making the threat.

He said he was “quite shocked” and felt threatened for himself, his family and staff.

Under cross examination from O’Flaherty, Kyne said: “I didn’t receive the injury but I did have a fear that you would cause the injury to me.”

O’Flaherty put it to Kyne that the alleged threat was inferred and not a direct threat.

Kyne said: “I took it as a direct threat.”

O’Flaherty asked Kyne about comments he made in the Seanad regarding the Dublin riots.

Kyne said his comments about “a good honest beating” referred to people who put gardaí in harm’s way and set fire to public property.

The Galway politician said the comments were a personal view and a matter of record.

O’Flaherty also put numerous questions to Kyne about the Covid-19 pandemic and the Irish government’s response.

These included questions about vaccine passports, the safety of Covid-19 vaccines, vaccine authorisation and vaccine traceability.

In reply to one question, Kyne said a planned inquiry into the handling of the pandemic will deal with a lot of these matters.

Citing the initial outbreak of Covid-19 in northern Italy and the hospitalisation of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Kyne said the pandemic was a “real issue of concern” and that lockdown as a response to the initial threat was “effective”.

In reply to a question on the effectiveness of vaccines, Kyne said vaccines had proven effective at prevention and preventing people from suffering the worst effects of Covid-19.

Judge Cronin reminded O’Flaherty on several occasions to keep his questions relevant to the case and not to cut across her when she was speaking.

The State is represented by state solicitor for Galway West, Rachel Joyce, who instructs barrister, Geri Silke BL

O’Flaherty is representing himself.

He has told the court he will not be calling witnesses and his only defence is “fraud”.

Judge Cronin said she had sought an additional day to hear the remainder of the evidence and adjourned the case for mention to 4 November.