Ireland Assault causing harm plea delayed at Dublin District Court
A 39-year-old man, Daniel Soave, was charged with assault causing harm and two public order counts after allegedly punching a woman in the face while she was canvassing for Catherine Connolly on North Strand Road, Dublin 1, on 24 October 2025. He was arrested and bailed at his first appearance at Dublin District Court on 27 October 2025. The case returned to the court on 23 March 2026 for DPP directions, where the judge accepted jurisdiction for summary disposal and remanded him on continuing bail. His plea has now been delayed to 19 October 2026 due to a dispute between solicitors and the Justice Minister over free legal aid reforms.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged27 Oct
- In court27 Oct
5 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A woman was allegedly punched in the face and knocked to the ground while canvassing for Catherine Connolly.
- Where
- The incident allegedly took place on North Strand Road near the Five Lamps, Dublin 1.
- When
- The incident allegedly occurred at about 4.55pm on 24 October 2025.
- Investigation
- Daniel Soave, 39, of Portland Row, Dublin 1, was arrested just before 6pm and detained at Store Street Garda station.
- Charges
- He was charged with one count of assault causing harm to a woman and two counts of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
- In court
- He first appeared at Dublin District Court on 27 October 2025, made no reply to the charges, and was granted bail with conditions.
- He reappeared on 23 March 2026 for DPP directions, where Judge Michele Finan accepted jurisdiction for summary disposal in the District Court and remanded him on continuing bail.
- His plea was delayed to 19 October 2026 due to a dispute between solicitors and the Justice Minister over free legal aid reforms.
- Other details
- The injured woman was taken to hospital but no further medical treatment was sought.
- Soave denied the assault in Garda evidence, telling the court the allegation was complete lies.
- Footage of the incident went viral online.
- Bail conditions bar him from contacting witnesses, the injured party, or engaging with campaigners in the Dublin 1 area.
48 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA 39-year-old man has been charged over an alleged assault on a woman campaigning for Catherine Connolly. (rte.ie)
- whatA man has been bailed after an alleged assault on a canvasser for Catherine Connolly. (extra.ie)
- whatDaniel Soave is accused of assault causing harm to a woman and public order offences. (rte.ie)
- whatA woman was allegedly punched in the face while campaigning for Catherine Connolly. (rte.ie)
- whatIt is alleged the accused pushed the canvassers and punched one of them in the face, knocking her to the ground. (rte.ie)
- whatHe is accused of assault causing harm to a woman and public order offences on North Strand Road, Dublin 1, on 24 October 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe injured woman was brought to hospital but no further medical treatment was sought. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man pushed the canvassers and punched a woman canvasser in the face, knocking her to the ground. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe alleged assault happened in north Dublin. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident took place on North Strand Road, Dublin 1. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident happened on North Strand Road near the Five Lamps, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe incident is alleged to have happened on 24 October. (rte.ie)
- whenThe alleged assault happened at about 4.55pm. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident allegedly occurred at about 4.55pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident allegedly occurred on 24 October 2025. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGarda Colm Maguire said Mr Soave was arrested for the purposes of charging him just before 6pm the previous evening. (rte.ie)
- investigationFootage of the incident went viral online. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationSoave, of Portland Row, Dublin 1, was arrested and detained at Store Street Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe defence has been granted an order for disclosure of the prosecution evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeA man has been charged over an alleged assault during a Mary Lou canvass. (extra.ie)
- chargeThe accused was arrested and charged at Store Street Garda Station with two counts of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and one charge of assault causing harm. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with two counts of engaging in threatening, abusive, and insulting words or behaviour and a single charge for assault causing harm to a named woman. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeSoave is charged with assault causing harm to a woman and two public order counts of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour. (thejournal.ie)
- courtMr Soave made no reply when the two charges of threatening and abusive behaviour were put to him. (rte.ie)
- courtGardaí did not object to bail but wanted certain conditions attached. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Derek Cooney granted bail and told Mr Soave not to contact witnesses or post anything online about the case. (rte.ie)
- courtMr Soave is due back before the courts in December. (rte.ie)
- courtThe DPP said the case is suitable for summary disposal in the District Court rather than the Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe accused has not entered a formal plea. (rte.ie)
- courtThe accused was ordered to appear again in July and remanded on continuing bail. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case first came before the court on 27 October. (rte.ie)
- courtDaniel Soave, 39, appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday 23 March 2026 for DPP directions. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSoave did not address the court and has yet to enter a plea formally. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHis solicitor Yvonne Bambury sought an order for disclosure of prosecution evidence, which was granted. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge ordered Soave to appear again in July and remanded him on continuing bail. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case first came before the court on 27 October 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- courtLegal aid was granted after the court heard he was employed, earning €600 a week, but paying a large rent. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Michele Finan noted the DPP stated the case was suitable for summary disposal in the District Court rather than the Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSoave appeared at Dublin District Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Michele Finan adjourned the case to 19 October for a plea to be entered. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceMr Soave must sign on in a garda station twice a week. (rte.ie)
- otherThe woman was taken to hospital, but no further medical treatment was sought. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused told the court the allegation was complete lies and that he never pushed anybody. (rte.ie)
- otherBail conditions bar the accused from engaging with campaigners in the Dublin 1 area or contacting the injured party or witnesses. (rte.ie)
- otherThe canvassers were campaigning ahead of the presidential election for Catherine Connolly. (thejournal.ie)
- otherSoave denied the assault charge in Garda evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherSoave had no lawyer because of a dispute between solicitors and the Justice Minister over free legal aid reforms. (thejournal.ie)
- otherSoave remains on bail. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Jul2026Man accused of punching Catherine Connolly canvasser has plea delayed over solicitors' dispute
First report in the list of this case. Gives the charges, the incident date and location, the court adjournment to 19 October, and that the delay was caused by solicitors' industrial action. Also records Soave's denial and that the defence has disclosure of the prosecution evidence.
accused, Daniel Soave, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Daniel Soavevictim, female - 23 Mar2026Woman canvassing for Catherine Connolly ‘punched in the face’, court told
DPP directions hearing at which the judge accepted jurisdiction for summary disposal in the District Court, granted an order for disclosure of prosecution evidence, and remanded the accused on continuing bail with conditions including not to engage with persons campaigning in Dublin 1 or contact the injured party or witnesses, to appear again in July 2026.
victim, femaleaccused, Daniel Soave, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Daniel Soave - 23 Mar2026Woman canvassing for Connolly 'punched', court told
Reports the accused's reappearance at Dublin District Court on 23 March 2026, the DPP's decision that the case is suitable for summary disposal in the District Court, the charges, the bail conditions and the adjournment to July.
accused, Daniel Soave, 39, male, namedDaniel Soavevictim, female - 28 Oct2025Man bailed after alleged assault on Catherine Connolly canvasser
Only the headline is available. The article text is template markup with no body, so the location, date and details of the incident are not given.
accusedvictim - 27 Oct2025Man charged over alleged assault during Mary Lou canvass
The article body is empty template code. Only the headline gives details, so location, date, victim and court are not stated. No existing case matches.
accused, male - 27 Oct2025Man in court over alleged assault of woman canvassing
Adds the court appearance at Dublin District Court, the charges, the arresting garda and timing of arrest, the bail conditions, and the next court date in December.
suspect, Daniel Soave, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Daniel Soavevictim, female