O’Doherty Arrested In Kilmac Protest

The scene of the grimy incident

o some, she is the voice of reason, a crusader against all the injustices and State oppression in this increasingly strange and strained world.

To others, Gemma O’Doherty is a conspiracy theory-toting nut whose marbles went astray quite some time ago.

Which may explain why the former Irish Independent staff writer and failed Irish Parliament, European Parliament and presidential candidate has faced numerous legal actions and sparked calls for changes to hate-crime legislation, as well as receiving a July 2019 ban from YouTube for violations of the site’s policies on hate speech.

Having caused controversy and outrage locally with a scathing walk-through of Wicklow town and an interview with Greystones’ Father Gerry Young, casting down on the Tuam babies scandal, the former journalist was back in town on Friday. And once again, controversy and outrage ensued.

The controversy was contained in the banners Gemma and her fellow anti-faxxers hung from an N11 footbridge at Kilmacanogue, denouncing public health advice on Covid-19.

In what appears to be her own live stream, a video has emerged of what many believe to be O’Doherty verbally battling with gardaí as they removed the hanging signs following numerous complaints from members of the public.

The person can be heard accusing the gardaí of “criminal damage” before calling them “cowards”, “gangsters” and “traitors to the Irish people”.

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Once the banners were removed, one of the two gardaí asked for the badgering person’s particulars, to which she replied, “You won’t be getting my name and address!”. As she attempted to leave the scene, the garda in question accosted her, to shouts of, “Get away from me!” and “He’s assaulting me!“.

A Garda spokesman confirmed the arrest of  “one female (early 50s) under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, 1994”, stating she is due to appear at Bray District Court on September 21st.