Protestor at Russian Embassy has case for provoking a breach of peace dismissed

PUBLIC order charges of threatening behaviour and provoking a breach of peace towards an employee at the Russian Embassy by a protestor were dismissed at Tallaght District Court.

Míceál MacGiobúin (64), of Belmont Park, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, appeared before court to face a charge relating to an alleged incident on October 11, 2024 outside the Russian Embassy on Orwell Road, Rathgar.

The case centred around an alleged interaction between Mr MacGiobhuin, who is a regular protestor outside the embassy, and Igor Koliara, an embassy employee.

Taking to the stand with the aid of an interpreter, Mr Koliara said he noticed a man approaching him outside the embassy and felt “scared” thinking he may have a knife in his hand.

Garda Sophie Gummerson, of Rathfarnham Garda Station, told the court that she had just started a patrol shift at approximately 7.23pm and observed Mr MacGiobúin “a known protester” who “always there at that time of the day.”

She said Mr Koliara walked out on the right-hand side of the road alongside the embassy and that Mr MacGiobhuin shouted “neo-nazi war criminals get out of Ireland and Ukraine” and “Putin’s going to put you in the mincer.”

Gardai intervened between the two parties.

CCTV footage was shown of the incident.

Representing himself in court, Mr MacGiobhuin said the cctv footage proved that he did not speed up his pace towards Mr Koliara.

“I’d been there since 6pm doing what I do. Mr Koliara came out forming a task, a novel activity only started two weeks earlier, coming into the public space to perform this so-called inspection. He proceeded down east side of Orwell Road. I moved as he was coming back. I crossed the road to go behind him, if I went in front of him I’m sure I could be charged with impeding him,” said MacGiobhuin.

“This novel activity…to inspect on a public road, an aluminium barrier, which is not maintained by the Russian Embassy. Mr Koliara stated out that he was looking for nails in the dark. I think this whole business was contrived to provoke me.”

A group of supporters were in attendance for MacGiobhuin and during proceedings, two were ejected for laughing during evidence while another had his phone confiscated for making continued noise.

Judge Aine Shannon found that the prosecution has not proved without reasonable doubt what was alleged and dismissed the case.

Funded by the Local Courts Reporting Scheme