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Councillor convicted of assault over Harney paint incident

Louise Minihan of Éirígí is convicted of throwing red paint over then-Minister for Health, Mary Harney, in November.

A MEMBER of Dublin City Council has been found guilty of assault and criminal damage, after spraying red paint on former health minister Mary Harney last year,

Louise Minihan, 29, was convicted of the charges, to which she had pleaded not guilty, at Dublin District Court this afternoon.

Harney, who gave evidence at the trial this morning, had been attending a sod-turning ceremony at a hospital in Cherry Orchard on Dublin’s northside on November 1, when she was sprayed with red paint that had been carried in a sports bottle.

Minihan, a former member of the Sinn Féin party who now represents socialist republican party Éirígí, had been invited to the ceremony as a member of the city council for the area.

RTÉ reports that Harney said she had originally thought she had been sprayed with water, but then saw the red substance when she looked up – as advisers told her it was paint.

Minihan had then told Harney she had “blood  on her hands”, she said.

Harney said she believed the damage caused was somewhere in the region of €600 to €800, but she was not seeking compensation for the damages.

Justice Ann Watkins gave Minihan a two-month suspended sentence and a fine of €1,500.

Read more at RTÉ News >

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15 Comments
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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:30 PM

    If immigration was apparently the top issue, and the single-issue far-right anti-immigrant parties couldn’t even get seats, then there is no hope for them lol. The current govt who have been overseeing the migration “issue” is reelected. This echo chamber won’t be happy and clearly doesn’t reflect the rest of the nation.

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    Mute M To The B
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    Jun 9th 2024, 4:44 PM

    @9QRixo8H: these people predominately exist on social media and are based on foreign soil. They absolutely do not represent the views of the vast majority of Irish people

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    Mute Stiles
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    Jun 9th 2024, 6:36 PM

    ming has worked tirelessly to call out hypocrisy corruption and general BS since he started in his career.. he is one of the most honest politicians I’ve ever come across.. he actually wants to improve our country.. most politicians are just spouting about whatever topical soundbites are currently fashionable to have an opinion on, while behind the scenes being only interested in lining their pockets.. this man is the real deal.. just my opinion..

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    Mute John finn
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    Jun 9th 2024, 6:54 PM

    @Stiles: thanks. You made me laugh. See you in 5 years time ming

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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:33 PM

    Brendan, the extreme left hypocrite, speaking for the Irish people. How many votes did you win?

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:37 PM

    @Oh Mammy: The Irish people spoke for themselves yesterday, and I am not ‘extreme left’.

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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:40 PM

    @Oh Mammy: Think he supports FFG, who have topped the polls. How many votes did your far right parties get? You’ve all been very quiet licking those wounds.

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    Mute Éamonn OKane
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    Jun 9th 2024, 4:08 PM

    @Oh Mammy: you need her, time for your bottle

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    Mute Hibernicus
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    Jun 9th 2024, 2:50 PM

    None the wiser, then!

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    Mute tom mitchell
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:11 PM

    Surely away to digitalize the vote for 2042 elections

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    Mute Adam O'Sullivan
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:14 PM

    @tom mitchell: There is, but they’ve been sitting in a barn for 20 odd years!

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Jun 9th 2024, 4:52 PM

    At least he called out the agribusiness lobby. On a radio discussion some idiot tried to raise the “derogation issue.
    Ming pointed out that it affected some 300 farmers in the constituency out of 13,000 and asked why it should be discussed.
    No. 1 for me!

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    Mute Ronan Mc
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    Jun 9th 2024, 5:10 PM

    Bring in e-voting for these huge constituencies. Only fair way to do it.

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jun 9th 2024, 4:29 PM
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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jun 9th 2024, 4:33 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: https://euandi.eu/en/survey/european-elections.html
    This is a better link

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