Michael Healy-Rae says he will not be deterred from his work after Dublin assault
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae gives a thumbs-up to the crowds gathered outside Leinster House in Dublin. File picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae says he will not be deterred from doing his work following an assault in Dublin on Wednesday.
Gardaí are still investigating the assault, which occurred on Cork Street in Dublin city centre shortly after 4pm on Wednesday. No arrest has been made.
Mr Healy-Rae was assaulted by a man while stopped in traffic. At the time of the incident, he was on the phone with his son, Jackie Healy-Rae Junior.
In a statement issued today, Mr Healy-Rae thanked the gardaí at Kevin Street Garda Station, the ambulance crew and all the staff at St Vincent’s Hospital for the care and assistance they had given him.
"I am also deeply grateful to the thousands of people from Kerry and across the country who have contacted me and my family. Your kindness and good wishes have meant a great deal to us.
"Whatever the intention behind this attack, I will not be deterred from continuing my work or from representing the people of Kerry to the very best of my ability.
"However, we do need to have a serious conversation about the growing toxicity directed towards politicians and public representatives. Disagreement and robust political debate are entirely legitimate, but personal abuse, intimidation and violence can never be accepted or normalised in a democratic society.
"I’m back in Kerry, I look forward to getting back to work in the coming days and trust the gardaí will find the perpetrator and bring him to justice."
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It is understood Mr Healy-Rae had left Leinster House and was stopped at traffic lights on Cork Street in central Dublin on Wednesday afternoon when the altercation occurred.
It is alleged that an individual started shouting at the TD before approaching his car.
Danny Healy-Rae, Michael's brother, said that he had been “hit in the window”.
Speaking in the Dáil, he said the incident involving Michael had affected him deeply.
“It is something that is hurting me, as much as anyone else.
“These shouldn't happen to public representatives. [Do] we get elected to hit a fella in the window without being able to defend himself?
“I hope you'll be alright before morning, and that you be OK tomorrow.”
Mr Healy-Rae’s son, Jackie Healy-Rae Jr, said it was lucky that his father’s injuries were not “too serious”.
"I could hear everything that was happening... I could hear someone shouting from a distance and then an awful commotion. It turned to chaos," he told this morning.
Gardaí from Kevin Street station responded to the scene shortly after 4pm. Mr Healy-Rae was subsequently taken to Kevin Street Garda Station before being brought by ambulance to St Vincent’s University Hospital.
Sources close to Mr Healy-Rae said he was moved from his own vehicle into a garda car and brought to Kevin Street station to wait for an ambulance.
Mr Healy-Rae was released from hospital late on Wednesday.
Gardaí said the man was approached and assaulted by a lone male while stopped in traffic.
“The injured man was brought to Kevin Street station, where he received medical treatment. His injuries are not life-threatening,” gardaí said.
“No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone who may have camera footage from the area at the time, to contact them.”
Commissioner Michael McGrath, who has responsibility for democracy and rule of law, told the Irish Examiner at the National Ploughing Championship that attacks such as the one on Mr Healy-Rae could deter people from entering politics.
He said he was “shocked” to hear what had happened, and that it was not acceptable that any member of the public would be assaulted.
“Any attack on an elected representative is an attack on democracy,” the Cork Commissioner said.
“My real concern is that such attacks can act as a deterrent to good people offering themselves for public life and may actually force people who are in public life to decide to exit.
“Our politics and our democracy would be all the poorer as a result.”
Mr McGrath said that the European Commission has a “role to play” and will provide updated recommendations on safety in politics as part of its “Democracy Shield”.
He also noted how abuse in politics particularly affects women and people from minorities.
He continued: “As the incident [with Michael Healy-Rae] proved, nobody is immune from the possibility of such attacks.”
Agriculture minister Martin Heydon, who previously worked with Mr Healy-Rae while he was a junior minister in the Department of Agriculture, also expressed concerns about the knock-on impacts such incidents can have on politics.
“I feel strongly [that] if we as politicians don't stand up and defend politics…. We have that obligation to ensure that good people continue to put themselves forward from all political backgrounds for public office,” he said.
“When things like this happen, it worries me that it would put off people who are thinking of running for politics in the future from doing so.
“That's why we, as politicians, all have to have a zero tolerance for this. We all need to work together to show that in society this is not acceptable.
“In a democracy, people who put themselves forward for public office should not be targeted, and if they are, there should be very serious consequences.”
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