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The women had been canvassing for support for presidential candidate Catherine Connolly at the time of the alleged incident.
Mary Lou McDonald during the incident
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald (Liam McBurney/PA)
A man has been arrested in relation to an alleged assault on two women who were canvassing with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald in Dublin’s north inner city on Friday evening.
The women had been canvassing for support for presidential candidate Catherine Connolly at the time of the alleged incident.
“Gardaí investigating an alleged assault of two females on North Strand Road, Dublin 1 on Friday 24th October 2025, have arrested a man,” a garda spokeperson said.
“The man, aged in his 30s, is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region.”
Mary Lou McDonald during the incident
News in 90 Seconds – Saturday, October 25
Investigations are ongoing, gardai added.
Ms McDonald and a group of about ten campaigners had been delivering leaflets at the time of the incident in which two women were allegedly assaulted.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald (Liam McBurney/PA)
The group was approached by man shouting a range of abusive phrases, ranging from sectarian to transphobic comments. Some of the insults were directed at Ms McDonald.
Video footage shows a canvasser on the ground injured. Ms McDonald can be heard saying: “Call the cops.”
The woman who was injured was not a Sinn Féin activist, but was part of the wider Connolly campaign. The left-wing parties backing the Independent TD have been conducting joint canvasses in the campaign.
Sinn Féin said Ms McDonald continued with the canvass following the incident.
“A man assaulted a young woman who was part of a team getting out the vote near the Five Lamps in the north inner city. The Gardaí were called and are now investigating the matter. The woman has been brought to hospital for medical examination.
This happened as Mary Lou McDonald joined the canvass team, which is now continuing with it’s work of getting the vote out,” a Sinn Féin spokesperson said.
The Garda Press Office said gardaí responded to a report of the assault of two females on North Strand Road, Dublin 1, shortly before 4pm on Friday afternoon.
“No medical treatment was required at the scene, however An Garda Síochána understands that one of the females has since attended the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital for further assessment,” a spokesperson said.
An Garda Síochána said it was appealing to anyone with information or camera footage in relation to the incident to contact Store Street Garda station on 01 666 8000.