The 45-year-old father-of-two has pleaded guilty to assaulting Roderick O’Gorman while the Green Party leader was campaigning

A SALESMAN has pleaded guilty in court to assaulting Green Party leader Roderick O’Gorman, who was campaigning at the time.

Father-of-two Carl Ronan, 45, also admitted threatening and insulting the minister and damaging a clipboard belonging to the politician.

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The incident happened on Saturday at Erris Square Waterville Blanchardstown Dublin 15, where the accused lives.

Ronan was before the Blanchardstown District Court and Judge David McHugh this morning.

The court heard in Garda Joseph Rogers, who testified on the charge of arrest and caution.

He told the judge that the accused was arrested to be charged after 11pm on Saturday.

The Guard said that the accused did not respond to the charges.

Attorney Tertius Van Eeden said his client would plead guilty to the charges after a judge accepted jurisdiction.

The charges are of assaulting Roderick O’Gorman on Saturday contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offenses Against the Person Act 1997.

The accused also admitted using or engaging in “threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior with intent to cause a public disturbance or was reckless as to whether there was likely to be a disturbance”.

This contravenes section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, as amended by section 22 of the Liquor Act 2008.

The third charge he made is that he damaged a clipboard belonging to Mr O’Gorman without lawful excuse, contrary to section 2(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1991.

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Judge McHugh said the hearing today caused an immediate complication.

He explained that the victim has the right to appeal to the court, so he will need to be informed about the developments and given the opportunity to at least write to the court.

The judge adjourned the case until December 17 to allow that to happen.

The Guard did not object to bail, but Ronan must contact the injured party directly or indirectly or make no comments on social media about the case. The judge said they should be interpreted strictly.

Mr Van Eeden applied for legal aid for the accused, telling the court he worked as a salesman, was a father of two and earned €600 a week.

Judge McHugh rejected the application and said the accused was remanded in custody on €100 bail.