A Dublin City councillor has received a two-month suspended sentence and been fined €1500 for criminal damage and assaulting former Minister for Health Mary Harney.
Louise Minihan, 29, a member of socialist republican party éirígí, had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Ms Harney by splattering her with red paint in Dublin last November.
Judge Ann Watkin said Councillor Minihan had wasted taxpayers' money by defending the charge when she had admitted responsibility.
The judge said while people were entitled to protest, it could not be used as a defence to criminal damage and assault.
While no physical harm was intended, criminal damage and an assault occurred, she said. In her favour she had not challenged the evidence and had not told lies, the judge said.
Ms Minihan refused to make a payment to a charity nominated by Ms Harney and said she would only make a contribution to Cherry Orchard Hospital.
The judge said it was not for her to choose the charity and instead imposed a two-month suspended sentence. Ms Minihan also refused to do community service, so Judge Watkin imposed a fine on the assault charge.
Judge Watkin said Councillor Minihan had shown no remorse and no desire to atone for her actions, as well as wasting taxpayers' money and time.
While she accepted that some people can be misguided, as a public representative she should have known better.
Earlier, the former Health Minister told the court she met Ms Minihan when she arrived for a sod-turning ceremony for a new unit at Cherry Orchard Hospital.
Ms Harney said the councillor asked if she could have a word with her after the ceremony and she agreed.
She told the court that she was handed a shovel and was about to perform the sod-turning ceremony when she felt liquid running down the side of her body.
At first she thought it was water, but when she looked up she saw a red substance. She was later informed it was paint.
Ms Harney said Cllr Minihan then said to her 'you have blood on your hands'.
During cross-examination, Ms Harney said she did not know what Cllr Minihan's motive was.
She was asked by defence solicitor Kieran Conway if she was aware that Ms Minihan had directed her actions towards her in her capacity as minister and it was not a personal attack.
Ms Harney said it was not for her to comment on this. She said she continued on with the ceremony but had to return home to change before her next appointment.
Ms Harney said that €600 to €800 worth of damage was done to her clothes, but said there was no question of seeking compensation for this and she would prefer any money to be paid to charity.
Witness Concepta De Brun told the court she observed the councillor throwing paint over the Minister and saying a number of things to her in a loud voice, including 'people died on your watch' and 'you have destroyed people's families'.
Councillor Minihan was arrested after the incident and her solicitor told the court she had handed herself over to gardaí. He said the defendant had poured paint over the Minister as part of a protest.
Mr Conway told the court she did not want to do community service as it would be an admission that she did something wrong.
He said the councillor was taking part in a political protest and that is why she chose to defend the case.
