Asked if he regretted the incident, Karl Ronan said he had been told not to comment on it
Karl Ronan (45), with an address in Erris Square, Waterville, in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, hid from cameras after he appeared in court on Monday charged with assaulting Mr O’Gorman; using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; and damaging a clipboard belonging to the party leader.
However, the Sunday World caught up with the father of two close to the scene of the attack later in the week.
Asked if he regretted the incident, Ronan said he had been told not to comment on it.
Ronan had no comment to make when approached by Sunday World this week
“I’m not allowed say anything. I’ve been told. I can’t make any comment whatsoever.
“This is a private estate and private street and we’re all private residents here. I can’t make a comment to yourself or anyone else and that’s the way it has to remain.”
Ronan pleaded guilty to all three offences through his solicitor Tertius van Eeden when he appeared before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court on Monday.
Judge McHugh accepted the plea and remanded the father-of-two on bail of a €100 bond to appear in court again on December 17.
Garda Joseph Rodgers, of Blanchardstown garda station, did not object to bail on condition that Ronan have no contact with Mr O’Gorman and make no communications about the case online or on social media.
Ronan, who was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a white t-shirt, sat quietly during the short hearing.
Judge McHugh said Mr O’Gorman should be given the opportunity to attend court in person or send a letter to the court on his behalf.
The court was told Ronan worked in sales and earns €600 a week supporting two young children and paying a €1,500 monthly mortgage. He applied for legal aid but was refused.
The charges stem from an incident on Saturday when Mr O’Gorman was canvassing for the upcoming election.
In a statement, Mr O’Gorman said: “On Saturday, while out canvassing in Dublin West, what was otherwise a positive canvass was marred by an alarming incident with one individual.
“I am grateful to the Garda protection officer assigned to me who was forced to intervene, and I have given a statement to gardaí on the matter.
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman
“I have been canvassing in Dublin west for more than 20 years. It’s my home. Meeting people and chatting through the issues has been and always will be at the heart of my work as a public representative.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris said what happened to Mr O’Gorman was “absolutely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated or accepted in a modern democracy”.
“I have been all across the country in recent months and it is important to state the overwhelming majority of people are fundamentally decent,” he said.
“Engaging directly with people is a core and fundamental part of our democracy and something I think people in this country value. It is essential in the weeks ahead that political candidates can go about their campaigning in complete safety and without fear.”
It is unclear what the motivation was for the attack on Mr O’Gorman.
In one violent incident, which took place in Hartstown in Dublin during the local elections, a thug told Councillor Tania Doyle “I’m going to destroy you” before punching her in the head and beating her husband to the ground because she didn’t hold anti-immigrant views.
There were a number of other violent incidents during the local elections and politicians are fearful there will be more attacks on candidates during the general election campaign,
After weeks of speculation Taoiseach Simon Harris formally sought the dissolution of the Dáil this week and confirmed the General Election will take place on November 29.
