Gardaí are investigating after Aontú representative Michael O’Dowd was assaulted on a street in Drogheda in an incident he believes may have been politically motivated.
Mr O’Dowd said he reported the incident to Gardaí and has renewed his call for greater Garda visibility and community wardens in the town centre, saying threats and aggressive behaviour must be taken seriously.
Aontú representative and Drogheda community activist Michael O’Dowd says he was left shaken after an incident on Peter Street in which a wheelie bin was kicked in his direction and struck him while he was walking with his daughter.
Mr O’Dowd said he was walking towards his car with his daughter when the incident happened. He said the man involved had previously criticised his politics and shouted at him on a number of occasions, including one incident where he was told he was a “dead man walking”.
While he said he could not be certain what motivated the latest incident, Mr O’Dowd said the previous comments left him concerned that he may have been targeted because of his political views and community work.
He said his daughter was very shaken by what happened and that no public representative, community worker or member of the public should have to face intimidation or aggression because of their views.
“I was walking towards my car with my daughter when this incident happened. The same man had previously criticised me for my politics and had also shouted at me on several occasions over the past year.
“In one incident he told me I was a dead man walking which is very disturbing and not something anybody wants to hear. I have serious reason to be concerned I was targeted due to my political views and work in the community.
“Threatening, aggressive and unruly behaviour has no place on the streets of Drogheda. I reported this incident immediately to gardai in Drogheda, who are investigating.
“No community worker, political representative or member of the public should face intimidation or violence because of their views or because they speak up for their community.
“We need more garda visibility to deter this kind of anti-social behaviour. The Drogheda Implementation Board, implemented by the Government was doing brilliant work but this has come to a close . The Board developed from a government concern about organised crime ,the violent Drogheda feud and wider weaknesses in community services into a wider more national forum.
The Government also disbanded the Joint Policing Committee which was a terrible shame
I am renewing my call for community wardens, backed by a visible Garda presence, to tackle antisocial behaviour in the town centre. The full range of available measures, including behaviour warnings and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders—should be used where appropriate against persistent offenders.”
