Gardaí in Co Mayo are investigating an incident in which a State car carrying Minister of State for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary was paint-bombed while he was on his way to an official engagement.
Two balloons filled with paint struck the Audi A4 as it approached the Glenamoy Bridge in Erris. A number of protesters against the Corrib gas pipeline were on the bridge at the time.
One man blocked the path of the ministerial car while another, whose face was masked by a scarf, threw the paint bombs.
Mr Calleary said yesterday the incident had not detracted from an enjoyable day in Erris where he had launched a social services programme for Kilcummin parish.