Councillor for court in connection with Harney paint assault

A Dublin City Councillor will appear in court in December charged with assaulting Health Minister Mary Harney in west Dublin earlier this month.

Minister Harney had red paint thrown at her during a sod-turning cermony for a new primary care and mental health unit in Ballyfermot on November 1.

Louise Minihan, a former Sinn Féin Councillor, was charged at Ballyfermot Garda Station this morning and will appear in court next month.

Ms Minihan was formally charged by gardaí of assault on Mary Harney; damage to property, namely Ms Harney’s dress; and causing threatening and abusive behaviour.

She is due to appear before Dublin District Court on December 13.

Ms Minihan, a member of the left-wing republican group Eirigí, has stood firm over her actions.

“When I poured the red paint over Mary Harney’s clothes, I did so knowing full well that I would be charged with some offence or other,” she said.

“This state has shown time and again that there is one law for the rich and powerful and one law for the rest of us.”