Protester who ‘intimidated’ TD Michael Healy-Rae spared jail and criminal record

The judge held that Dean Hickson had satisfactorily completed a restorative justice programme

Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae had condemned the conduct of some protesters outside Leinster House as the Dáil resumed following the summer recess in 2023. File photo: Liam McBurney/PA

A protester, who admitted "intimidating" TD Michael Healy-Rae, has avoided jail and a criminal record after a judge held he had satisfactorily completed a restorative justice programme.

Dublin District Court heard the "distressing" incident happened during an anti-government and immigration demonstration which "spiralled out of control" at Government buildings on September 20, 2023.