Senior Garda officers set to probe Danny Healy-Rae 'push' as TD makes u-turn

Irish Daily Mirror

3 days ago

Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae has said he won't be complaining about the Garda who allegedly pushed him on a Dublin street - because the officer's superiors are now examining the issue themselves.
Healy-Rae had originally vowed to make a complaint over the incident that happened in central Dublin as he made his way to Croke Park for Sunday's All-Ireland final - but has now changed his mind.
He told The Irish Mirror on Monday evening that Garda management was looking at the issue - and he was happy with that. Danny Healy-Rae was allegedly pushed by a garda before Sunday's All-Ireland final
'The Gardaí have a way of dealing with that and they will deal with it. I have enough to do beside doing any more,' he told The Irish Mirror.
Sources have confirmed to us that local Garda management are examining the incident - but they stressed that there was no disciplinary process.
'There is no disciplinary process, but it is being assessed locally,' a source told us.
The incident, on Cathedral Street beside O'Connell Street in central Dublin, was caught on camera - and put up online within minutes of it happening. It quickly went viral and, as of Monday night, had been viewed at least 1.5 million times.
The incident started when hundreds of Kerry fans were lining the street ahead of the Croke Park showdown with Donegal for Sam Maguire.
Several fans noticed Deputy Healy-Rae walking along the street and began cheering. He acknowledged the cheers and waved to the fans before walking a few yards.
He stopped to wave to fans again, before turning to walk down the street - which is when the incident with the Garda happened.
In the footage, the two men walk close to each other and then the Garda appears to stick out a hand to move the deputy out of his way.
The Garda then walks on, but a clearly upset Deputy Healy-Rae goes back to approach the officer. The incident happened beside Dublin's O'Connell Street
The two men talk to each other for a few seconds before they go their separate ways - while the crowd starts booing.
Deputy Healy-Rae told the Irish Mirror on Sunday night he was going to make a complaint over the incident, which appears to show a uniformed Garda using one hand to move him away from him.
But, speaking to The Irish Mirror on Monday evening, he confirmed he was happy for Gardaí to examine it internally.
He said: 'It is up to the powers that be to deal with him.
'I know that they will deal with him appropriately. I am not going to add to his woes.'
But he added: 'There was no call or need for what he did to me.
'He is only one person and I have the utmost regard and respect for the Gardaí.
'It is out there in the public - I believe over a million people have seen it, sure that is enough for me.
'The most important thing (is) Kerry won the match. We have the best team and we have the best supporters and we are the best county in the country.' Kerry's Paudie Clifford lifts The Sam Maguire Cup with David Clifford and his son Ogie. Deputy Healy-Rae says the most important thing is that the Kingdom won on Sunday (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
The deputy stressed the matter was now in the hands of the Garda's bosses.
And he said: 'It's up to the Gardaí themselves to deal with it as they see fit.
'I really appreciate the Gardaí and I know that at many times they have to deal with very tricky situations where they have to de-escalate problems rather than trying to make them worse.
'I know that they will deal with the matter efficiently and effectively and I rely on them to do that. I appreciate the Gardaí and they are doing a wonderful job.
'There were wonderful Gardaí around there at that specific place at that particular time and they were all doing their job and they were visible and they were present.'
But he did say that he would like an apology from the uniformed officer.
He said: 'He will have to explain himself to the people who are his superiors.
'I am not saying anything in the world about him, only I would like that he would apologise.'
A Garda spokeswoman declined to comment when contacted by The Irish Mirror.
She said: 'An Garda Síochána does not comment on internal matters of employee relations while under assessment.
'Anyone who wishes to report the conduct of a member of An Garda Síochána is entitled to make a complaint to the independent policing ombudsman, Fiosrú.'
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