A man who was accused of attacking Kerry TD, Michael Healy-Rae, has been granted High Court bail.
51 year old Anthony Foley, was charged with assault, causing harm to Mr Healy-Rae, as he sat in traffic on Cork Street on 16 September 2026. He had previously been denied bail two days after the assault in the District Court.
But Mr Foley, with an address at Rosary Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, appealed this decision before Ms Justice Cathleen Noctor, at a hearing where evidence and legal submissions were heard at the High Court in Cloverhill, Dublin yesterday.
She said that there was no evidence to back up objections that the accused would fail to appear in court, as well as Garda concerns over potential witness interference via social media or at the Mr Healy-Rae's place of work.
The Judge also rejected calls from the Gardaí that granting bail would lead to another serious offence targeting a politician specifically, saying that she was "not convinced it was clearly politically motivated", but more an attack on a person who happened to be an elected representative.
She did add that given the severity of the attack on the TD, she said she was satisfied that any conviction would likely result in a custodial sentence.
As a result, bail was granted on the the tightest of conditions, with Ms Justice Noctor saying that an independent surety of €500 had to be approved, while Mr Foley was also required to lodge his own bond of €1,400.
The accused must also reside at an address which was approved by Gardaí, sign on twice daily at his nearest garda station. Other terms which were part of this bail included a curfew, as well as an exclusion from the Dublin 2 area.
Mr Foley is to return to the District Court later this month for further direction from the DPP on how this case is to be outlined. (All quotes according to RTÉ).
