An attempt is made to throw paint over An Taoiseach Charles Haughey while on a visit to St Michael's Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.
The attacker had concealed a tin of white paint in a plastic shopping bag. Before he got the chance to throw the paint over the Taoiseach the man was brought crashing to the ground by a Special Branch detective.
The paint shot into the air splattering several expensive suits, but missing its intended target, Mr Haughey. Amongst those hit by the paint were Fianna Fáil Press Secretary Frank Dunlop, campaigner Michael McKee and former RTÉ cameraman Jimmy Quinn who was filming the Taoiseach on the election campaign trail for a documentary.
The perpetrator was taken away by the police for questioning.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 May 1981. The footage shown here is mute.
