High Court grants bail to man accused of attacking Michael Healy Rae

The High Court in Ireland has granted bail to a man accused of carrying out an alleged attack on Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae, Irish Examiner and thejournal.ie reported. Anthony Foley, aged 51, of Rosary Road, Maryland, Dublin, is charged with assault causing harm to the politician on September 16 at Cork Street in Dublin while Healy-Rae sat in traffic. [1][4]

Foley was previously denied bail two days after the incident in the District Court, Irish Examiner and thejournal.ie reported. He appealed that decision before Ms Justice Cathleen Noctor at the High Court. According to thejournal.ie, the judge stated she was not convinced that the alleged incident was politically motivated. [1][4]

The High Court judge rejected Garda concerns that granting bail would lead to another serious offence targeting a politician specifically, Irish Examiner reported. Healy-Rae was not required to attend the bail hearing. [1]

Healy-Rae is an Irish independent politician who has served as a Teachta Dála for the Kerry constituency, as FTMQ News reported earlier. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Foley had previously been remanded in custody after being charged with assault causing harm to the politician. [10][12]