Councillor may be charged for paint attack on Irish Minister for Health

Irish Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has made a formal complaint with the police over Dublin city councilor, Mary Minihan’s, red paint attack on Monday.

Councilor Minihan sprayed red paint at the Minister as she arrived to a photo call. She was protesting about the budget cuts to the Irish health services.

The police are investigating the incident and will hand their file on to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The councilor will be charged with an offence under the Public Order Act.

Minister Harney gave a detailed statement to Detective Kieran McEneney and Superintendent John P Quirke of Clondalkin Garda Station.

Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Gerry Breen, said that the councilor’s action was unacceptable and called for her resignation. He said “This is not a legitimate form of protest. It was an appalling and dangerous action which will be condemned by all right-thinking people.”

Speaking to the Evening Herald he said that he has recommended a “Protocol Committee” who will meet on December 2 to discuss the incident.

Dublin City Council refused to comment on the incident. However Minihan did not breach any codes of conduct ruled by the Local Government Act of 2001.