‘They said they were going to get me, going to fix me’: Limerick councillor takes couple to court

A JUDGE said a city councillor is entitled to do her work in peace without having abuse hurled at her, after finding a couple guilty of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place.

Judge Adrian Harris said the fact that the councillor’s daughter, who is a private citizen, was brought into it was “particularly appalling”.

The victim - Cllr Catherine Slattary - gave evidence in the case in Limerick District Court along with Deputy Willie O’Dea, Cllr Joe Pond and Alec Morrissey.

The two accused - Thomas Keogh, aged 58, of Lilac Court, Keyes Park, Southill and Claire McNamara, aged 41, Convent View Terrace, Clare Street, Limerick city - pleaded not guilty to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994

The case was prosecuted by Inspector Padraigh Sutton, on behalf of the State, and investigated by Garda Craig Connolly.

Ms Slattery said she was invited to the launch of a housing development at Amharc Muileann, Bloodmill Road on July 10, 2023 by Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien.

“Two people came up behind me and started hurling abuse at me. They called me a ‘c***, an ugly c***, that I looked like a man’. They said they were ‘going to get me, going to fix me and I was not going to be elected’,” said Ms  Slattery, who added that the defendants said “terrible things about my daughter”. The Fianna Fail councillor said she felt embarrassed, intimidated and scared.

John Herbert, solicitor for Mr Keogh and Ms NcMamara, said his clients have been on the housing list for 20 years and Ms Slattery knows them from the couple making representations. Mr Herbert said Ms McNamara has five children.

Mr Herbert said his instructions are that the couple went to the launch to get an audience with Minister O’Brien as they were not getting anywhere in Limerick regarding their housing situation.

“You saw them and said to Mr O’Dea, ‘Here come those two c****’. 

“Mr Keogh said, ‘Who is she calling a c***’,” said Mr Herbert.

“That’s not true,” said Ms Slattery. 

The next witness was Willie  O’Dea who said the couple's remarks about Ms  Slattery were “scurrilous”. He said it was supposed to be a joyous occasion with the Government providing housing to meet the housing crisis.

Mr Herbert said there was a certain amount of frustration because his clients have been on the housing list for a number of years.

“They are certainly not unique,” said Mr O’Dea, who denied that Ms  Slattery said to him, “Here come those two c****”.

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Alec Morrissey said the disparaging marks made by Mr Keogh were “intimidating, unacceptable and totally wrong”. Mr Pond said if it was said about his family he would be “very disturbed”.

Ms McNamara took the stand, saying the seven of them live in a one-bedroom property. She said she went to the launch to meet Minister O’Brien as they were “getting nowhere” in Limerick.

“She (Ms  Slattery) tugged at Willie O’Dea’s jacket and said, ‘There’s those two c****’. I said to Thomas, ‘Don’t say anything’. He said, ‘Who are you calling two c****?’” said Ms McNamara, who added that Mr Pond and Mr Morrisey were “not there at all”.

Insp Sutton put it to Ms McNamara that she expects the court to accept that public representatives “made all this up”.

“It is crazy. I was shocked when I read the statements,” said Ms McNamara.

Insp Sutton said she used horrible language at an event to get maximum impact and was “telling lies”.

Ms McNamara denied this, saying she didn’t do anything as “it is not in my nature”.

Mr Keogh was the last person to give evidence. He said that Ms  Slattery said, “Here comes those two c****” and he said, “Who are you calling c****?”

Insp Sutton said he appreciates the difficult situation the couple find themselves in but put it to Mr Keogh that he used threatening, insulting, horrific language. “I didn’t,” said Mr Keogh.

In summation, Mr Herbert made an application that the case be dismissed as there is a direct conflict between the parties on what was said. The solicitor said people have the right to protest. He said his clients did not cause trouble, there was no breach of the peace and gardai did not get involved on the day.

Insp Sutton said the right to protest is extremely important but they had no right to use horrific, foul language. 

“Their behaviour was outrageous. The State has reached the threshold,” said Insp Sutton.

Judge Harris said he was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt and found Mr Keogh and Ms McNamara guilty of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place.

Mr Herbert asked Judge Harris to be lenient as possible due to the couple caring for five children.

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Judge Harris said he has sympathy for their plight.

“Waiting on the housing list for so long can’t be easy for you. Having said that, the language used was appalling. Ms Slattery, as a public representative, you would assume, has a thick skin but is entitled to do her work in peace without having abuse hurled at her.

"The fact that her daughter, a private citizen, was brought into it was particularly appalling,” said Judge Harris who imposed the Probation Act for one year on Mr Keogh and Ms McNamara. 

Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.

Speaking after the case, Cllr Slattery said she was delighted that justice was done.

“I'm not happy that I had to go to these lengths and end up in court due to intimidation. A public representative should not have to put up with this kind of behaviour so that's why I felt I had to bring these two individuals to court.

“This should not have happened. We should not be here today, but unfortunately I was left with no choice,” said Cllr Slattery, who thanked Deputy O'Dea, Cllr Pond and Mr Morrissey.