Brian Garrigan, 56, a businessman and once hopeful general election candidate, refuted all allegations of producing a slash hook as a weapon in a dispute with a work crew in Dublin, including a charge of causing damage to newly laid tarmac. This incident was reported to have occurred at Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin on October 22nd last year.
Garrigan had contended in the elections in 2020 as an independent candidate but was unsuccessful. Despite this, he intends to vie for a council seat in the upcoming local elections. Interestingly, he runs an IT recovery and computer repair business and boasts the donation of over 550 computers to noble causes such as assisting Syrian and Ukrainian families, a local hospital, and various charities addressing suicide, homelessness, and addiction.
He was present at the Dublin District Court on Thursday, charged with engaging in behaviour that was threatening, abusive and insulting under the Public Order Act. Despite not addressing the court himself, his barrister communicated the intent to contest the charges. The case has been postponed by Judge Monika Leech to an April session, when a hearing date will be fixed.
Garrigan, who resides at Fairview Corner, Dublin 3, garnered a modest 588 votes, including transfers, in the Dublin Bay North constituency in his bid for the Dáil, only to be ousted in the fourth round of counting. During his campaign, he was vocal about a variety of issues encompassing immigration, health, the climate crisis, housing and gender equality.
Garrigan made known his decision to join the race for the Dublin Central local elections through his X profile, the platform formerly known as Twitter, expressing his commitment to prioritising Irish lives, as demonstrated by his public display of an “Irish Lives Matter” poster.