Grandmother who used megaphone in tirade of abuse against gardaí during far-right Dáil protest spared jail

Today at 17:47

A grandmother who used a megaphone to direct a tirade of “terrible” abuse at gardaí as they dealt with disturbances during last month’s far-right protest outside the Dáil has been spared jail.

About 200 protesters had held a demonstration outside Leinster House on September 20 as politicians returned after the summer recess. Gardaí made 13 arrests, with 11 defendants facing their first appearances at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.

Lauren Wildes (43) of Woodside Walk, Stepaside, south Dublin, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive, insulting language or behaviour, failing to leave the vicinity when cautioned and obstructing arrest on September 20 at Kildare Street.

Judge Paula Murphy heard at Dublin District Court that the accused was “using a megaphone shouting at gardaí for 10 minutes”.

Court Garda Sergeant Gail Smith outlined the evidence on behalf of the arresting officer. She told the court that Wildes used “choice” and “terrible” language, and obstructed attempts to arrest her by “tightening her arms around her chest”.

Judge Murphy heard Wildes had 30 prior criminal convictions, including public order and drug possession offences.

Wildes had been arrested and charged shortly after the incident and granted station bail to appear in court on Wednesday.

Pleading for leniency, defence solicitor Andrew Broderick asked the judge to note his client entered the guilty plea at the first available opportunity.

He said that she had intended to go and carry out a peaceful protest, but “things got out of hand”, and she used her megaphone while abusing gardaí.

Mr Broderick pleaded with the court to accept that while it escalated, Wildes did not set out to cause trouble and knew she could have handled it better.

Judge Murphy convicted the grandmother, who is on social welfare, but spared her a jail sentence and fined her €350 instead.

During the vitriolic protests, which lasted most of the day, politicians and staff were jostled and heckled as they arrived at and left the Dáil and Leinster House, with some unable to leave the grounds for several hours. Some of the protesters present, whose grievances included issues from immigration to Covid policies, brought a mock gallows bearing the pictures of several politicians. The scenes led to a review of security for TDs, senators and their staff.

Separate to Ms Wildes’ case, two men were told they would avoid convictions if each donated €350 to charity on public order charges linked to incidents at the protest.

A pensioner (65), who claimed she did not clearly understand a caution to leave the area during the incident, was granted the Probation of Offenders Act, also sparing her a criminal record for a public order charge. They had no prior convictions.

The rest of the cases were adjourned to later dates to enter pleas or face hearings, and the court directed gardaí to disclose prosecution evidence, including CCTV footage, to their lawyers.