Ireland Two men face public order charges over Dáil protest
On Wednesday 20 September 2023, about 200 protesters gathered outside Leinster House on Kildare Street in Dublin as the Dáil returned from summer recess, and two men, Philip Keogh (45) and Darryl McMahon (48), were arrested under the public order act. Both men are accused of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Molesworth Street that day, with Keogh also charged with obstructing gardaí and McMahon with failing to comply with a garda's direction to leave the vicinity. At a hearing reported on 11 October 2023, Keogh pleaded not guilty before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court, and McMahon has yet to indicate a plea. The latest development is that McMahon's case was adjourned to 22 November so gardaí could seek DPP directions on possible additional charges, while Keogh's hearing was ordered to proceed on 15 November.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested26 Sep
- Charged20 Sep
3 reports - In court11 Oct
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- About 200 protesters gathered on Kildare Street and outside Leinster House as the Dáil returned from its summer recess.
- One group of protesters set up a gallows displaying pictures of politicians.
- One garda was injured while coming to the aid of a person who had been told not to enter the crowd, and Assistant Garda Commissioner Angela Willis said no one else was injured.
- When
- The protest and arrests took place on Wednesday 20 September 2023.
- Where
- The protest took place outside Leinster House in Dublin, and the men are accused of offences at Molesworth Street.
- Investigation
- Philip Keogh, 45, and Darryl McMahon, 48, were arrested under the public order act and taken to a Garda station in Dublin.
- Sources differ on the number arrested: a Garda spokesperson said two people were arrested outside Leinster House, while other reports say thirteen people were arrested or charged over the operation.
- Charges
- Keogh and McMahon are accused of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at Molesworth Street on 20 September, and both have been charged.
- Keogh faces an additional charge of obstructing gardaí, and McMahon faces an extra charge of failing to comply with a garda's direction to leave the vicinity.
- In court
- Keogh pleaded not guilty before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court, and his solicitor says he denies the charges.
- Gardaí sought further time for DPP directions on possible additional charges against McMahon, and his case was adjourned to 22 November.
- Keogh's hearing was ordered to proceed on 15 November, and McMahon has yet to indicate a plea.
- The court refused an order barring the men from Molesworth Street and the Houses of the Oireachtas, citing the constitutional right of assembly.
- Other details
- The men have been granted legal aid, and politicians were told the incident could have resulted in tragedy.
32 statements extracted from the articles
- whatUp to around 200 protesters were estimated to be on Kildare Street on Wednesday morning. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatOne group of protesters set up a gallows with pictures of politicians. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAn estimated 200 protesters gathered on Kildare Street on the morning of the protest. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOne member of An Garda Síochána was injured while coming to the aid of a person. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA Dublin man has pleaded not guilty to public order charges connected to incidents during a protest outside the Dáil. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAbout 200 protesters held a demonstration outside Leinster House as the Dáil returned from summer recess. (irishtimes.com)
- whereProtesters gathered outside Leinster House as the Dáil returned from its summer recess. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe protest took place outside Leinster House in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe arrests took place on Wednesday 20 September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe two men are accused of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour on 20 September at Molesworth Street. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA Garda spokesperson confirmed that two people were arrested outside Leinster House on Wednesday. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationTwo men were arrested under the public order act and taken to a Garda station in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe incident resulted in the arrests of over a dozen people. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThirteen people were arrested on 20 September over incidents close to Government Buildings. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThirteen people have been charged as part of the policing operation from earlier that day. (garda.ie)
- chargeTwo men were arrested under the public order act. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeBoth men have since been charged. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeBoth men have since been charged and are due to appear in court at a later date. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeKeogh faces an additional charge of obstructing gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMcMahon faces an extra charge of failing to comply with a garda's direction to leave the vicinity. (irishtimes.com)
- courtTwo men in their 40s have already appeared before the courts. (garda.ie)
- courtTwo women and nine men are due to appear before Court No.3 at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin at a later date. (garda.ie)
- courtBoth men are due to appear in court at a later date. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe men appeared at their second hearing before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court on a Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGardaí sought further time for DPP directions on possible additional charges against McMahon, and the case was adjourned to 22 November. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMcMahon has yet to indicate a plea. (irishtimes.com)
- courtKeogh's hearing was ordered to proceed on 15 November. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe court refused an order barring the men from Molesworth Street and the Houses of the Oireachtas, citing the constitutional right of assembly. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPoliticians were told the incident could have resulted in tragedy. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherNo one else was injured, according to Assistant Garda Commissioner Angela Willis. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherKeogh's solicitor said he denies the charges. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe men have been granted legal aid. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Oct2023Dublin man pleads not guilty to public order charges connected to incidents during a protest at Dáil
Court hearing report: Keogh denies his charges and has legal aid, his hearing is set for 15 November, and possible additional charges against McMahon are adjourned to 22 November. Thirteen people were arrested over the incidents.
accused, Philip Keogh, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip Keoghaccused, Darryl McMahon, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darryl McMahon - 26 Sep2023Garda injured during Dail protests by far-right mob
Adds that one garda was injured while helping a person who had been told not to enter the crowd, that the incident resulted in the arrests of over a dozen people, and that the Assistant Garda Commissioner said it could have resulted in tragedy. The article names no victims or suspects.
victim - 25 Sep2023Arrests and anger outside Leinster House as politicians return from summer break
Confirms the Garda account that two men were arrested under the public order act and that both have since been charged. It gives the protest context and an estimated crowd of up to 200 but names no suspects.
accused, maleaccused, male - 20 Sep2023Arrests outside Leinster House after angry protestors gather
Adds the protest's details: an estimated crowd of up to around 200, a gallows displaying pictures of politicians, and a Garda spokesperson's confirmation to the Irish Mirror that two men were arrested and have been charged. The men are not named.
accused, maleaccused, male - 20 Sep2023Update - An Garda Síochána Policing Operation - Wednesday 20th September 2023
Update on the 20 September 2023 policing operation: thirteen people charged in total, with two men in their 40s already before the courts. The article does not name the operation or the people; the link to case 7391 rests on the date and the two men in their 40s.
accused, 40s, maleaccused, 40s, maleaccused, 40s, femaleaccused, 30s, femaleaccused, 20s-60s, maleaccused, 20s-60s, maleaccused, 20s-60s, maleaccused, 20s-60s, maleaccused, 20s-60s, maleaccused, 20s-60s, maleaccused, 20s-60s, maleaccused, 20s-60s, maleaccused, 20s-60s, male