Judge dismisses charge against Russian embassy protestor
(Pictured outside court today: Mr Míceál MacGiobúin and his wife Ms Sammy Thiangrach)
A judge has dismissed the charge against a man accused of threatening and abusive behaviour during a protest outside the Russian Embassy in Dublin, ruling that his actions did not go beyond a peaceful demonstration.
Míceál MacGiobúin (64), of Belmont Park, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, had pleaded not guilty at Tallaght District Court to a charge under Section 6 of the Public Order Act, which alleged he used threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to cause a breach of the peace.
The case arose from an incident on 11 October, 2024 outside the Russian Embassy on Orwell Road, Rathgar.
Garda Sophie Gummerson, of Rathfarnham Garda Station, told Judge Áine Shannon she was on patrol shortly after 7.20pm when she saw Mr MacGiobúin walking near the embassy carrying a placard.
She said he was shouting phrases including “Nazi war criminal – get out of Ireland and get out of Ukraine” and “Putin will put you in his meat mincer” towards a man working at the embassy, Igor Koliara.
Garda Gummerson said the man working at the embassy appeared frightened and that she intervened within seconds.
Questioned by Mr MacGiobúin, who represented himself, she accepted that CCTV footage showed the defendant walking at a steady pace, not running or lunging.
Mr MacGiobúin told the court that he had been protesting at the embassy from about 6pm that evening and had regularly demonstrated there over several months. He described his protest as passionate but peaceful and denied any threatening intent.
Mr Koliara said he had gone outside to collect nails from the road, after cars were damaged earlier in the week, and told the court that he felt intimidated by the shouting.
During the hearing, Judge Shannon asked several of Mr MacGiobúin’s supporters to leave the courtroom after there was laughter during evidence. A phone belonging to one man was confiscated when it continued to make noise.
After viewing the CCTV footage, Judge Shannon said it showed the defendant moving at a steady pace and not behaving aggressively. She said she had a doubt that he intended to breach the peace and found that his actions did not go beyond a peaceful protest.
The judge concluded that the prosecution had not proven the Section 6 Public Order charge beyond reasonable doubt and dismissed it.