Man accused of throwing egg at Gilmore BMW set for January trial
A protestor will go on trial in January for throwing eggs at Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore's ministerial BMW, which was cleaned at a cost of €9.
On October 5 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 Base, a childcare centre, for a Unicef event in support of a Yes vote.
Minister 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, protester Dónall Ó Ceallaigh (aged 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 breach of the peace.
Dublin District Court has heard that no damage was caused to the ministerial care but it had to be cleaned at a cost of €9.
Mr Ó Ceallaigh has pleaded not guilty to both charges and today Judge Victor Blake ordered that his trial will take place on January 21 next.
He was remanded on continuing bail and has agreed to obey a condition “to stay away from public events where Government Ministers are in attendance”.
A district court conviction for criminal damage can carry a prison term not exceeding 12 months as well as a fine. The breach of the peace offence can result in a fine and or a sentence of up to three months in jail.
