Man arrested after Michael Healy Rae allegedly assaulted

Independent Kerry TD was punched in the face while driving in Dublin.

Healy-Rae was in his car, which was stopped in traffic on Cork Street in the Coombe area of Dublin at the time.

A man approached the car and punched the 59-year-old through the car window while it was stopped in traffic.

Gardai have confirmed the man is being held at Kevin Street Garda Station.

It is understood Healy-Rae was hit a number of times in the assault before the perpetrator fled.

He was taken St Vincent's hospital and has received stitches to his face and is said to be doing well and has since returned home.

Mr Healy-Rae said he will not be deterred from his work as a TD following yesterday's assault.

In a statement, he said: "Whatever the intention behind this attack, I will not be deterred from continuing my work or from representing the people of Kerry to the very best of my ability.

"However, we do need to have a serious conversation about the growing toxicity directed towards politicians and public representatives.

"Disagreement and robust political debate are entirely legitimate, but personal abuse, intimidation and violence can never be accepted or normalised in a democratic society."

Mr Healy-Rae thanked gardaí at Kevin Street Garda Station, paramedics and staff at St Vincent's Hospital "for the care and assistance they gave me".

Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday evening, his brother Danny Healy-Rae confirmed that “someone hit him in the window” when he was in traffic.

“I, too, am very disappointed with the news that my brother was assaulted going out the road in the car, and it’s not on,” he said.

“He was just doing his work, or wherever he was going, and stopped on the road, someone hit him in the window, it’s not good enough.

“I hope he’ll be all right. I hope his family will be all right, and it’s something that’s hurting me as much as anyone else,” he added, appearing to become emotional in the Dáil chamber.

“Them things shouldn’t happen to public representatives. We get elected to help the people and not to hurt them, and if we can’t do right by everyone, it’s tough. We can’t please everyone, we’re doing our best.

“It’s unfair to hit a fella in the window without being able to defend himself. I hope he will be all right before morning and he’ll be out again.

“It’s something that is hurting me as much as anyone else. Them things shouldn’t happen to public representatives.”

Gardaí have confirmed that shortly after 4pm, officers from Kevin Street responded to reports of an incident on Cork Street, Dublin.

“It is understood that a male motorist in his late 50s was approached and assaulted by a lone male while stopped in traffic,” a garda spokesman said.

“The injured man was brought to Kevin Street station, where he received medical treatment. His injuries are not life-threatening.”

No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to contact them, particularly anyone who may have camera footage from the area at the time.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “deeply shocked and concerned by the assault on Michael Healy-Rae this afternoon”.

“I have sent my best regards to Michael and his family this evening and wished him a full recovery from his injuries,” he said.

“It is worth repeating. Violence has no place in a democracy, and those elected to represent the people must be allowed to do their work without fear of abuse or assault.”

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said he had received an update about the assault from An Garda Síochána as he sat in the Dáil chamber debating the Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026.

“I want to express my best wishes to him and I wish him a speedy recovery,” he said.

“Any attack on a member of the Oireachtas, because they are a member of the Oireachtas, is an attack on democracy and we should all resolutely stand together in this house in condemning any such attacks.

“People are entitled to their different views politically, but what we will not tolerate is people targeted or violence being used against them simply because they don’t share the same political views as others.”

Tánaiste Simon Harris said he had spoken to Mr Healy-Rae on Wednesday evening to send his best wishes.

“There is absolutely no place for violence or intimation in our democracy,” he said. “Every citizen including every public representative has the right to go about their work and life without fear.”

It comes after another man was charged with attempting to assault Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the National Ploughing Championships this week.