A former journalist claimed she was assaulted by a garda when she was arrested during a Covid-19 protest, a judge heard.
Gemma O’Doherty appeared before Bray District Court today in relation to the incident in Kilmacangoue, Co Wicklow, on August 28.
Sgt Tony Quinn gave evidence of arrest, charge, arrest and caution of the accused before the hearing for a new charge of resisting arrest by Garda Joseph Waldron on that date.
The court heard that when charged, O’Doherty replied: “I reject all of the charges. I was assaulted by Garda Waldron who did not identify himself to me.
“This is a flagrant attack on free speech and journalism. I will be contesting all the charges”.
O’Doherty, 52, whose address cannot be published as a result of a direction by the High Court in separate legal case, is also charged with refusing to provide her name and address when demanded by a garda on grounds she was suspected of having committed an offence on the footbridge.
The two offences carry a maximum fine of €500 or a six-month jail sentence or both on conviction at District Court level.
The former Irish Independent journalist is also facing a third charge in relation to the same incident of engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.
It carries a maximum fine of €500, prison term of three months or both.
A video of the incident which showed gardai removing banners containing anti-vaccination and anti-mask wearing messages from the footbridge as well as O’Doherty’s arrest went viral on social media platforms in August.
The accused’s solicitor Brendan Maloney asked for the matter to be adjourned because of the new charge.
Judge David Kennedy remanded the defendant on continuing bail until January 25.
O’Doherty, who was accompanied to the courthouse by author and columnist John Waters, did not address the court during the
five-minute session.
After the hearing, she addressed around 50 of her followers, whom she described as an “army of patriots”, to thank them for attending outside the court.
