Prosecutors told the court that a security guard and several organizers were allegedly verbally and physically accosted when protesters barged into the room and began livestreaming. Additionally, it was alleged that adult volunteers at the event were referred to as "absolute creatures" and prostitutes, RTE News reported.
Tralee District Court Judge Waters described the incident as a "premeditated" disruption, claiming that the defendants traveled to the event with the intent to recklessly breach the peace. The court was informed that the event organizers had to place children in a corner of the room and use umbrellas to protect them from the protesters and from being recorded.
Ross Lahive, 45, of Cork, was convicted of assaulting a library security guard, a woman, a man, and a male photographer. He was convicted on all four assault charges contrary to Section 2 of the Non-fatal Offenses Against the Person Act. Lahive, a former Irish People Party candidate, denied the allegations but Judge Waters said there was "clear evidence in relation to all four assaults."
The judge said it was "beyond any doubt whatsoever" that Lahive breached public order. He detailed the alleged incidents of assault that included throwing a man on the ground, twisting a female's arm, assaulting a photographer, and pushing a young man on door duty, as per the publication.
Margo Mills, 37, of Cork, was convicted of assault and using threatening and abusive words or behavior. The third defendant, Stephen McGeough, 57, of Cork, was convicted of using threatening or insulting words to provoke the breach of peace. Both Mills and McGeough have maintained their innocence.
In response to the online video of the library event disruption, Judge Waters stated, "The witnesses I viewed remained calm in the face of appalling provocation and behavior including name-calling, assaults vitriol and appalling comments."
Euegene Manley, the attorney for the three convicted defendants, told RTE News that his clients were shocked by the court's decision to convict them. All three defendants will be sentenced on Friday.
