TD ‘sorry’ gardaí were called to protest
Fresh from the so-called pizzagate prank, which saw the Cork South-West TD join some of his fellow Dáil members in making a hoax phonecall to Independent TD Mattie McGrath as he staged a sit-in at the headquarters of Friends First Finance in Dublin, Mr McCarthy learned gardaí had been called to his constituency office after a woman tried to take a photograph while protesting against cuts to the carers’ respite grant.
The protester, Gaia Charis, who cares for her child, who has autism, carried a homemade placard asking for the budget cuts to be reversed. She intended to take her sign to the offices of each of the three West Cork TDs — Mr McCarthy, and Fine Gael’s Jim Daly and Noel Harrington — in an effort to highlight the effect cuts to the carers’ respite grant will have on those who care for disabled or elderly family members at home.
As Ms Charis attempted to take a photograph, a member of Mr McCarthy’s staff asked her if she could help. When told that the photograph was part of her protest, the staff member said: “This is private property, the guards are on the way.”
Ms Charis moved away immediately, just as a squad car and a number of gardaí arrived.
Mr McCarthy confirmed that gardaí were called to his office to deal with the protest.
“The incident in question did take place and I have since spoken to the protestor concerned about it, who has agreed to meet with me to discuss the issue further,” he said.
Ms Charis said she accepted Mr McCarthy’s apology.
“‘He contacted me personally to apologise unreservedly for the incident which occurred,” she said.
“I have accepted Deputy McCarthy’s apology equ-ally unreservedly and have openly thanked him for this on his own Facebook page.
“I have accepted Deputy McCarthy’s invitation to meet with him. Deputy McCarthy has given his word that my representations will be relayed at ministerial level.”
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