Water charges protester convicted of assaulting detective garda

A water charges protester was yesterday convicted of assaulting a detective garda while he was on duty, providing protection for the Taoiseach and other cabinet ministers at a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting.

Joseph Shanahan, aged 64, of St Michael’s Court, Watergate Flats, Limerick, had denied assaulting Detective Garda Pat Whelan, who was on duty at the Greenhills Hotel, Ennis Rd, Limerick, on November 24, 2014.

Det Gda Whelan told Limerick District Court that he was “providing security for a number of cabinet ministers, including An Taoiseach Enda Kenny”.