Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 4762Assault · Co. Dublin

Man in his 30s charged over alleged assault on Roderic O'Gorman in Blanchardstown

Roderic O'Gorman, Green Party leader and Minister for Children, was allegedly assaulted while canvassing on a doorstep at Erris Square, Blanchardstown, on Saturday 2 November 2024. A man in his 30s was arrested and charged, and the Irish Times later named him as Karl Ronan, 45, of Erris Square, Waterville, Blanchardstown. On Monday 4 November 2024 at Blanchardstown District Court, the Irish Times reported that Ronan pleaded guilty to the charges, with the defence asking that the pleas be marked, and he was granted bail on his own bond of €100. The case was adjourned to 17 December at the same court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged3 Nov
    3 reports
  4. In court4 Nov
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Green Party leader and Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman was allegedly assaulted while canvassing.
  • The alleged suspect allegedly shouted that he had been waiting for the minister to come to his door, shoved him twice, and ripped a clipboard from his hands.
Investigation
  • An armed Garda protection officer shadowing the minister intervened, and the minister was restrained.
  • Gardaí believe the clipboard incident may have been filmed on a camera phone, and investigations are ongoing.
Where
  • The alleged incident took place on a doorstep at Erris Square in Blanchardstown, Dublin West.
  • The Irish Times described the canvass as taking place in northwest Dublin, while other reports say Dublin West.
When
The alleged incident occurred on Saturday 2 November 2024.
Other details
The minister was not injured and was reported to be left shaken but uninjured.
Charges
  • A man was arrested and charged; the Garda statement described him as in his 30s, while the Irish Times named him as Karl Ronan, 45.
  • He was charged with assault contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, damaging the minister's clipboard, and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.
In court
  • He was scheduled to appear before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court on Monday 4 November 2024 at 10:30am.
  • The Irish Times reported that he pleaded guilty to the charges, with the defence asking that the pleas be marked, and the garda asked that he have no contact with the minister and not comment online about the case.
  • He was granted bail on his own bond of €100, an application for legal aid was refused, and he was ordered to appear again at the same court on 17 December.
43 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGreen Party leader Roderic O'Gorman was allegedly assaulted. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe man is alleged to have assaulted Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused allegedly shouted that he had been waiting for Mr O’Gorman to come to his door. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe alleged suspect shoved the minister twice before he was restrained. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man is alleged to have ripped a clipboard from Mr O’Gorman’s hands. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMinister Roderic O'Gorman was allegedly shoved twice in the incident. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe accused allegedly shouted that he had been waiting for the minister to come to his door. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe accused is alleged to have ripped a clipboard from the minister's hands. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatAn armed Garda protection officer shadowing the minister intervened. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe alleged suspect shoved the minister twice before being restrained. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA man pleaded guilty to assaulting Minister Roderic O’Gorman during a canvass in northwest Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged incident took place on a doorstep in Blanchardstown. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe alleged incident took place in Blanchardstown. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe alleged incident took place in Blanchardstown in Dublin West. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe assault took place at Erris Square. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged incident occurred on Saturday 2 November 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe alleged assault happened on a Saturday while Mr O’Gorman was canvassing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged assault happened on a Saturday while the TD was canvassing. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe assault took place on 2 November. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationAn armed Garda protection officer who was shadowing Mr O’Gorman intervened. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí believe the clipboard incident may have been filmed on a camera phone. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA garda gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution and said he had no objection to bail with conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeA man in his 30s has been arrested and charged in relation to the incident. (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeGardaí said a man in his 30s arrested over the alleged assault of an elected representative has been charged. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man is expected to be charged with a section two assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is expected to be charged with a section two assault. (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with assault contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was also charged with damaging Mr O’Gorman’s clipboard. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was also charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man is scheduled to appear before Blanchardstown District Court on Monday 4 November 2024 at 10:30am. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe man is scheduled to appear before Blanchardstown District Court on Monday at 10:30am. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe accused is scheduled to appear before Blanchardstown District Court on Monday at 10:30am. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence asked that pleas of guilty be marked on the charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe garda asked that he have no contact with Mr O’Gorman and not comment online about the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge granted bail on the accused’s own bond of €100. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAn application for legal aid was refused. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe was ordered to appear again at the same court on 17 December. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherO'Gorman was canvassing in Dublin West when the alleged incident occurred. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherO'Gorman was not injured in the incident. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherMr O’Gorman was left shaken but uninjured, it is understood. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe minister was reported to be left shaken but uninjured. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Nov2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man pleads guilty to assaulting Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman

    Covers the guilty pleas, the additional charges, the bail terms and the next court date. No case in the existing list covers this incident.

    accused, Karl Ronan, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Karl Ronanvictim, Roderic O'Gorman, irish (judged from name)Roderic O'Gorman
  2. 4 Nov2024
    Chargeddublinlive.ie, first report
    Suspect due in court this morning over alleged 'assault on Roderic O'Gorman'

    Reports that the suspect, a man in his 30s, was arrested and charged after an alleged assault on the minister on Saturday while canvassing in Blanchardstown. Adds details of the alleged shoving, the clipboard, the Garda protection officer's intervention, and the court appearance.

    victim, Roderic O'Gorman, male, irish (judged from name)Roderic O'Gormanaccused, 30s, male
  3. 4 Nov2024
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Suspect due in court this morning over alleged 'assault on Roderic O' Gorman'

    Reports the alleged assault on Roderic O’Gorman during canvassing, the alleged shouting and shoving, the alleged clipboard incident, the Garda protection officer's intervention, and the charge and court date. No earlier case in the list matches.

    suspect, 30s, malevictim, Roderic O'Gorman, male, irish (judged from name)Roderic O'Gorman
  4. 3 Nov2024
    Chargeddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Man to appear in court following alleged assault of Roderic O'Gorman

    Reports that a man in his 30s has been charged over the alleged assault of Roderic O'Gorman on Saturday 2 November 2024, and gives his court date at Blanchardstown District Court on 4 November 2024.

    victim, Roderic O'Gorman, male, irish (judged from name)Roderic O'Gormansuspect, 30s, male