Gardaí are investigating after Aontú representative Michael O’Dowd was assaulted while walking with his daughter in Drogheda in an incident he believes may have been politically motivated, having previously been threatened that he was a “dead man walking”.
Mr O’Dowd, who is a well-known Community and Disability rights activist, says that he feels he was targeted for attack because of his political views and work in the community.
He said he reported the incident to Gardaí, and has been in touch with AGS again today, because he was shaken by the assault – and he has renewed his call for greater Garda visibility and community wardens in the town centre, saying threats and aggressive behaviour must be taken seriously.
The Aontú rep says he was walking on Peter Street in Drogheda towards his car with his daughter when a man kicked a wheelie bin in his direction, causing it to strike him.
“I was walking towards my car with my daughter when this incident happened. The same man had previously criticised me for my politics and had also shouted at me on occasion over the past year. One one occasion he told me I was a ‘DEAD MAN WALKING’ which is very disturbing and not something anybody wants to hear,” he said.
“While I cannot state with certainty what motivated this latest incident, his previous comments give me serious reason to be concerned that I was targeted because of my political views and my work in the community,” he said.
“No community worker, political representative or member of the public should face intimidation or violence because of their views or because they speak up for their community. I am not the first person that this happened to and it simply has to stop . It is deeply distressing and I have to say my daughter was very shaken to witness such an act of pure aggression,” he said.
Mr O’Dowd said that threatening, aggressive and unruly behaviour has no place on the streets of Drogheda – or in political discourse. “I was the subject of sustained social media attacks on me during Right to Life referendum and personal left wing attacks on social media when I called for Maria Steen to be nominated in the Presidential race, though I was never critical of Catherine Connolly,” he said. “I’ve had posters defaced and removed in the general election. Politics does not need to be this intolerant or aggressive.”
He said he had “reported this incident [with the wheelie bin] immediately to Gardai in Drogheda”.
“We need far more Garda visibility to deter this kind of anti-social behaviour. The Government disbanded the Joint Policing Committee which was a terrible shame and incorporated the Drogheda Implementation Board .The Board developed from a government concern about organised crime ,the violent Drogheda feud and wider weaknesses in community services into a wider more national forum,” he said.
“As far back as 2020 the year the then Justice Minister Helen McEntee commissioned former probation service director Vivian Geiran to examine community safety and well-being in Drogheda . Geiran’s report, ‘Drogheda –creating a bridge to a better future’ identified shortcomings in coordination policing, Youth Services education, drug treatment, community facilities and local development,” he said.
“The draft implementation board was established in October 2021 To oversee a plan containing 74 recommendations. 16 members representing public agencies and the community were part of the board led by Michael Keogh. it was funded By the Department of Justice and hosted by louder than me the education and training board.”
“Its priorities included policing and drugs family and youth support education community development arts and recreation infrastructure employment and integration a central objective was getting agencies to plan and deliver services together. In December 2024 the boards extended term ended. By then 70 posts had been created or supported including 23 permanent posts and more than €31 million had been committed to staffing and capital projects. Afterwards much of its work passed to the responsible public agencies. The planned Louth local community safety partnership was intended to continue the collaborative approach,” he said.
“In July last year, the Department of Justice published the final progress report on the implementation plan the board was therefore a temporary coordination body rather than a permanent local authority. This was a grave mistake,” Me O’Dowd said.
“Its principal legacy was increased investment and closer cooperation between government agencies and Drogheda communities and there is no doubt but that this is badly needed,” he added.
“Drogheda has a lot going for it but needs help from this Government. People just cannot do it on their own.”
“I am renewing my call for community wardens, backed by a visible Garda presence, to tackle antisocial behaviour in the town centre. The full range of available measures—including behaviour warnings and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders—should be used where appropriate against persistent offenders.”
“Drogheda must remain a safe and welcoming place for residents, businesses and visitors. Threats and acts of aggression must be taken seriously, and those who repeatedly cause fear and disruption must be held accountable,” he said.