Protester smashes Hogan’s car windscreen

Political protest took an ugly twist yesterday as Environment Minister Phil Hogan’s car windscreen was smashed by a demonstrator and a fellow Government TD brought in the gardaí after being threatened.

The unrelated incidents are the latest examples of an increasingly confrontational style of demonstration against Coalition policies.

Mr Hogan’s ministerial car was besieged by about a dozen demonstrators as he left an event in Athlone, Co Westmeath. Gardaí said a man in his 20s was detained but released last night.

Mr Hogan’s spokesperson said the protesters stopped the car and began rocking it in a “very intimidating” manner.

“They surrounded the car and started banging on the windows and the roof; one smashed the windscreen with his fist,” said the spokesperson.

“The windscreen will now need to be replaced, but Mr Hogan is made of stern stuff.

“The minister acknowledges the right to peaceful protest, but a bunch of protesters surrounding the car and shaking it and screaming, and smashing a windscreen is far from peaceful.”

The incident came as a female TD made a complaint to gardaí after she was threatened by anti-abortion campaigners near her home.

Regina Doherty, a Fine Gael TD for Meath East and a mother of four, said she was left “shaking” after being threatened by “mad loonies” who were distributing anti-abortion leaflets using her name.

The incident happened after she confronted men distributing leaflets in her area containing images of a late-term foetus and the Holocaust alongside her phone number.

Ms Doherty said gardaí advised her the men had breached the Public Order Act by distributing the offensive material.

A number of Fine Gael TDs have complained about material bearing their names being distributed and of receiving threats.

Ms Doherty revealed last month she had also been approached by one individual who threatened to burn down her home.

Mr Hogan, who was in the car with his driver and an official, has become a target for protesters as his department is overseeing the property tax and the introduction of water charges.

Gardaí said the man arrested in connection with the Hogan incident was released without charge but the investigation is ongoing.

A Garda spokesman said gardaí review security arrangements after incidents like these. “Security issues are always under review and after any incident we would reassess security in response to any perceived higher risk,” he said.