Former Limerick senator is cleared of charges

James Heffernan
Former Senator James Heffernan

A JUDGE has dismissed a public order prosecution against a former Limerick senator over an incident at a Garda crime scene in Dublin.

James Heffernan (38) of Main Street, Kilfinane, denied he breached public order laws when he expressed concern for the victim of an assault in Dublin’s Temple Bar on March 16, 2016.

Mr Heffernan told Judge Bryan Smyth that Gardaí told him to repeatedly “f*** off” from the scene but denied he threatened to have some members of the force sacked.

Gardai were responding to an assault on a victim and Mr Heffernan said that he had been expressing concern for the victim when he walked into the cordoned off area.

Dismissing the charges, Judge Smyth said that Mr Heffernan probably got a little bit more involved than he should have.

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