Government Chief Whip Hildegarde Naughton, has told a court she was “frightened” for her personal safety and had to reassess her movements after she was allegedly subjected to threats online.
Ms Naughton was giving evidence on Friday at Galway District Court at the hearing of a case against Daragh O’Flaherty.
Mr O’Flaherty (47), with an address at New Estate, Clarinbridge, Co Galway, denies committing offences, contrary to section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and related offences Act 2020.
In the case, it is alleged that on January 9th and January 10th, 2024, Mr O’Flaherty distributed or published a threatening or grossly offensive communication about Ms Naughton, with intent to cause harm.
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Two further charges allege that on the same dates, he distributed or published a threatening or grossly offensive communication about Fine Gael Senator, Seán Kyne, with intent to cause harm.
In her evidence, Ms Naughton said that on January 11th she received a WhatsApp message from Mr Kyne containing a video allegedly made by Mr O’Flaherty. Mr Kyne advised her to be careful.
Ms Naughton was asked about a video posted on January 10th, in which a man alleged to be Mr O’Flaherty, said if it’s six stitches for him, then it’s six stitches for a number of named Galway politicians, including Ms Naughton.
Mr O’Flaherty has claimed that he received the stitches because he was assaulted by gardaí in Dublin.
Asked by prosecuting barrister, Geri Silke, how she felt after seeing the video, Ms Naughton said: “I was frightened and worried for my own personal safety and I had to reassess my movements and the movements of my staff.”
She said she took the alleged threats “extremely seriously” and decided not to attend an event in Galway cathedral due to fears for her safety.
The Fine Gael TD said she was “very shaken”.
“I didn’t feel safe going about my daily, ordinary life,” she said, adding that she recalled “scanning the room” for anyone suspicious when she attended public meetings.
Under cross-examination from Mr O’Flaherty, representing himself, Ms Naughton was asked why she felt fear.
“The fact you said you had stitches on your face and you were going to cause me to have stitches also,” she said.
Mr O’Flaherty said the comment was not specifically made about Ms Naughton, who replied that is how she interpreted the comments.
Mr O’Flaherty asked Ms Naughton about a number of matters including the possible effects of the Covid-19 vaccine on gardaí; the impact of climate change on excess mortality in Ireland; the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines; and the blood products scandal.
Mr O’Flaherty put it to Ms Naughton the fear she felt was not a result of the videos but of the public’s response to the Government’s handling of Covid-19.
Ms Naughton said the fear she felt was a “direct result” of the videos.
“I am fearful for my own personal safety. That is why I am here in court today,” she said.
On a number of occasions, Judge Patricia Cronin told the accused to keep his questions relevant to the case before the court.
Judge Cronin told Mr O’Flaherty she had asked him on “five or six occasions” not to talk over the court and not to interrupt the witness.
Judge Cronin also warned Mr O’Flaherty she would consider holding him in contempt of court if he continued to interrupt the court.
At the outset of the case, Det John Kerrigan of Galway Garda station, said he was assigned to investigate the matter after Catherine Connolly TD notified gardaí of messages posted online.
Det Kerrigan said that through his inquires he became aware of a Telegram channel in which a man alleged to be Mr O’Flaherty posted a number of videos.
Two of those videos from January 9th and 10th were played in court.
Mr O’Flaherty told the court he will not be calling witnesses.
In his evidence, Seán Kyne said he took the reference to stitches as “a threat”.
Mr O’Flaherty put it to Mr Kyne that the alleged threat was inferred and not a direct threat. Mr Kyne said: “I took it as a direct threat.”
Mr O’Flaherty asked Mr Kyne about comments he made in the Seanad regarding the Dublin riots. Mr Kyne said his comments about “a good honest beating” referred to people who put gardaí in harm’s way and set fire to public property.
Judge Cronin said she had sought an additional day to hear the remainder of the evidence and adjourned the case for mention to November 4th.
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