Man accused of attacking Michael Healy-Rae granted bail
Anthony Foley, a 51-year-old Dublin man, has been granted High Court bail after being charged with assaulting TD Michael Healy-Rae. The judge rejected claims that the attack was politically motivated, imposing strict conditions including a curfew and exclusion from the Dublin 2 area.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the safety of public representatives and the judicial standards for bail in high-profile assault cases.
A man accused of carrying out an "unprovoked" attack on Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae as he sat in traffic in Dublin has been granted High Court bail.
Anthony Foley, aged 51, of Rosary Road, Maryland in Dublin 8, is charged with assault causing harm to the politician on 16 September 2026 at Cork Street, and was denied bail two days later in the district court.
However, he appealed that decision before Ms Justice Cathleen Noctor, who heard evidence and legal submissions at the High Court in Cloverhill, Dublin, yesterday.
She reserved judgment until today and emphasised that the accused was entitled to the presumption of innocence and to bail.
Addressing objections that Mr Foley would fail to appear in court and garda concerns over potential witness interference via social media or at the TD's workplace, she held that there was no evidential basis for those fears.
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