Man arrested in connection with Michael Healy-Rae assault

A man suspected of a violent assault on Michael Healy-Rae is known to gardaí and was identified quickly because he was walking a distinctive dog at the time.

The Irish Times understands the man lives very close to the crime scene in Dublin ’s south inner city and appears to have acted in a “spur of the moment” manner.

The suspect, who is in his 50s, is known to gardaí and has a history of offending, including chaotic crimes and for-profit offences, stretching back many years. Garda are trying to determine what motivated the attack and if the suspect has any links to protest, or extremist, groups.

The suspect is also closely linked to a man who took part in a Kinahan-Hutch feud murder and was jailed for his supporting role in that gun killing, carried out for the Kinahan cartel .