Comedian Al Porter has suffered “horrible” online abuse since he appeared in court this week, it was revealed yesterday.
The 26-year-old had been charged with trying to prevent a garda arresting a man – but the case against him was dismissed at Dublin District Court.
Angry trolls on Twitter and Facebook have since targeted Porter with one calling for hanging to be brought back, causing upset to him and his family.
Pals said the radio personality, who presented on Today FM and also hosted Blind Date on TV3, had been detained following an incident on October 6 in the capital.
One told the Irish Mirror: “The case against Al was dismissed but that hasn’t stopped the cowards on social media.
“He was simply trying to help a fella who was been arrested by gardai and ended up getting arrested himself.
“He knows now he shouldn’t have done it, but it’s not like he committed a serious crime.
“The abuse has been non-stop and very cruel. The worst post was ‘bring back hanging’. Others described him as a ‘horrid pest’, an ‘asshole’, ‘arrogant twat’ and a ‘clown’.
“More referred to him as a ‘drunken interfering idiot’ and claimed he would start telling the media he would take his own life.
“All these suicide jokes and stuff about hanging is terrible. They’ve had an awful effect on Al.
“He isn’t upset that he appeared in court and he has apologised and wishes now he had said nothing that night.
“But to receive such horrible abuse over this has really hurt him.
“Another post said he had been hiding behind people with real mental health diagnosis.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. Al is dealing with mental health issues himself.”
One pal told the Irish Mirror yesterday how Porter, from Springfield, Tallaght, South Dublin, has been receiving treatment for depression at a psychiatric facility since 2017.
He said: “The last thing Al would do would be to hide behind the cloak of mental illness.
“He knows all too well what it is like and would not take such an issue lightly.”
He was prosecuted under his real name, Alan Kavanagh.
He pleaded guilty to a Public Order Act charge for wilfully obstructing an officer at Camden Street.
He did not have to give evidence. His legal representative confirmed the matter had been discussed with gardai and the accused was pleading guilty.
Al was told to “mind your own business in future” by Judge Flann Brennan, who also warned him: “This is the only time I’ll give you a chance.”
The comedian thanked the judge before he left the courtroom.
