Farmer accused of f linging dung disputes assault charge
He allegedly threw manure in direction of Minister Anne Rabbitte at meeting
A FARMER who is alleged to have thrown a bag containing cow dung in the direction of junior minister Anne Rabbitte at a public meeting is to contest the charge of assaulting the Fianna Fáil deputy.
At Gort District Court yesterday, John Nash, solicitor for Joseph Baldwin, 38, told Judge Alec Gabbett that a hearing date is required in the case.
Mr Baldwin, of Ballyaneen, Gort, Co. Galway, is charged with assaulting Ms Rabbitte on January 4, 2023, at a public meeting at Sullivan’s Royal Hotel in Gort.
The assault charge against Mr Baldwin is contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
Mr Baldwin has, through his solicitor, confirmed that he is to contest the charge.
Ms Rabbitte, Galway East TD and Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, will be required to provide her sworn eyewitness account from the witness box of what occurred on the night as part of the State case against Mr Baldwin.
Mr Nash will be able to crossexamine Minister Rabbitte on her evidence on behalf of his client.
The politician was attending the meeting on the night to hear locals’ concerns over a biogas plant planned for Gort. Her fellow Galway East deputy Ciarán Cannon, of Fine Gael, was also in attendance at the meeting last year.
The gathering had been called to discuss taking a judicial review against the planning decision permitting the biogas plant.
Some €20,000 was pledged to the fight by those present at the meeting in Gort.
Mr Baldwin is also contesting a second charge whereby he is accused of using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned.
The charge is contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. The summons for the alleged assault and public order breach is being brought by Sgt Diarmuid Cloonan of Gort Garda Station.
CCTV evidence is to form part of the State’s case and Judge Gabbett asked Mr Nash: ‘Do I need to bring this to a court where CCTV can be shown?’
The judge also asked the solicitor: ‘You don’t want to come to Ennis to see the CCTV on the big screen?’
Mr Nash said that he was happy that the case remain at Gort District Court and that a court
Laptop ‘sufficient’ to show CCTV
laptop would be sufficient for the showing of the CCTV.
He asked that the contested case take place on May 23 at Gort District Court and Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to that date for hearing.
Those who are convicted of Section 2 assault charges in the District Court face penalties of a prison term up to six months or a fine not exceeding €1,905.