When Simon Harris’s house was last targeted in May, he said people’s homes should be 'out of bounds' to protesters. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Pool/AFP via Getty
When Mr Harris’s house was last targeted in May, he said people’s homes should be “out of bounds” to protesters as such gatherings could be “intimidating” and “upsetting”. While he made no comment on the latest protest at his home on Friday evening, Mr Harris said last month the Garda had assured him they had all the powers they needed to police such protests.
In reply to queries, the department said the right to protest did “not extend to a right to threaten public order or cause others to fear for their safety”. However, balancing “the right to protest with protecting the public and upholding the law” was a “complex task” for gardaí. It said Minister for Justice Helen McEntee was thankful to Mr Byrne and Senator Fiona O’Loughlin for “bringing this legislation forward and facilitating a discussion of these important issues”.