Defense evidence has been heard before the court in relation to an alleged public order incident in Tralee Library last year.
The accused – Ross Lahive, of Church Street, Shandon Street, Cork; Margo Mills of Carnloch Drive, The Glen, Cork; and Steven McGeough of Devonshire Street, Cork appeared before Listowel District Court.
The charges relate to an alleged incident at Kerry Library, Moyderwell on July 13th 2023, after four protesters disrupted a story telling event billed “drag king story time”
It’s alleged the accused forced their way into the library's events room, assaulted volunteers and committee members and caused public order disruptions while protesting an event during Kingdom Pride.
45 year-old Ross Lahive, who was an Irish People Party candidate in the Ireland South constituency at the recent European elections, faces four assault charges and one for public order.
37 year-old Margo Mills is charged on two counts (one for assault, one for public order), while 57 year-old Steven McGeough is before the court on one charge of public order.
The court heard that the three accused and Mr McGeough’s wife, Joanna, travelled from Cork to Kerry, to peacefully protest the “drag king story time” event.
The three accused, who were represented by barrister Eugene P Manley, and their witness all gave evidence in court and told Judge David Waters that they became aware of the event via social media.
They said the protest was about the protection of children; and was nothing against, nor have they issue with the LGBTQ+ community.
Steven McGeough took to the stand first yesterday to give evidence.
He said his wife, Joanna, went into the library, while he and Mr Lahive and Ms Mills, smoked a cigarette in the car, outside.
After receiving a call from Joanna McGeough, the three accused entered the library.
Mr McGeough said he felt uncomfortable and that there was a tense atmosphere from event organisers in the library.
He said Mr Lahive entered the room where the event was taking place first and he followed behind, however, was not sure what happened next and that he was ejected in under a minute.
Mr McGeough said he then went outside with his wife and claims he was shoved by a member of the event crew.
State barrister Tom Rice put it to him that it was clear the accused had a plan, which was to turn on their phones, burst into the event and start videoing the event, which was being attended by children.
Mr McGeough refuted this, saying they were not intending to video children, it was instead a form of protection for themselves; he also disagreed that they burst into the room.
Mr Rice asked him what was his expectation as to how parents would react when a group run in to a room towards their children; he replied he was hoping parents would act with higher morality than they did.
Mr Rice asked him how did he think parents would react to protestors coming in and shouting insults like “prostitutes” and “groomers” in front of children. He also asked what evidence there was to support such allegations being directed at the event staff.
As cross examination of Mr McGeough concluded, he maintained the provocation came from the event organisers, in particular Sabrina Crotty.
Margo Mills told the court she felt personally and physically attacked by the incident at Tralee library.
She said she was in a state of shock when leaving the library, as she had gone to the event to peacefully protest.
The court heard that Ms Mills was not cautioned outside Tralee library or at Tralee Garda Station.
Ms Mills told Judge Waters that there was no plan of action, she just used her phone to record the protest for her own protection; adding she didn’t use force to enter the library, just followed suit.
She said she sent the video to Mr Lahive and another friend, who she believes put it up online.
Ms Mills didn’t agree that the protestors used baiting to provoke a reaction from staff, and said event organisers had umbrellas which they were using as shields and that she was pushed around the room.
Upon taking the stand, Joanna McGeough gave evidence of providing a witness statement to Gardaí on the day of the incident.
She told the court that she and the three accused arrived at Tralee library just before 12 noon.
Ms McGeough gave details of walking into the library first, videoing around the library and recording for inappropriate books.
She said she saw no posters or signs of a public event on display and noted the atmosphere was calm.
Ms McGeough phoned her husband and the three accused entered the library a short time later.
She told the court that the atmosphere turned frosty soon after.
Under cross examination she said “from a distance” she saw Mr Lahive force his way into the events room; and agreed that no parent would be happy seeing people bursting into a room towards their children.
She also told the court she saw Mr Lahive getting hit in the eye with an umbrella while outside the library.
Taking to the stand, Ross Lahive told Judge David Waters that he travelled to Tralee Library to protest peacefully and protect the innocence of children.
He said upon arrival the door to the event room was being guarded by two people who were “acting suspicious” and “like they were trying to hide something”.
Mr Lahive told the court he entered the room with “appropriate force”, adding the room turned hostile very quickly.
He said the protestors were immediately set upon by the event organisers, who had at least 10 umbrellas and opened them up like shields.
Mr Lahive said they were surrounded in a very aggressive manner, stating Ms Crotty encroached on his personal space, waving a book and hand in his face, before Tim Clifford intervened.
Mr Lahive told the court he believed Mr Clifford put his hands on him very aggressively, adding he didn’t want to be man-handled and took him down to the floor very gently.
He gave details of being confronted by the event photographer; the two ended up pushing each other, before Mr Lahive said he left the room, because as far as he was concerned, that was that.
He told the court upon walking outside he learned the event was still underway, so the protestors went around the side of the building to attempt to film, and were followed by event organisers who had umbrellas.
He said he wanted to film the event but not record the children, he said he has no issue with LGBTQ+ community. But in his opinion drag is adult-entertainment and that this event was open grooming.
Defence barrister Eugene P Manley referenced photographic evidence shown to the judge of Mr Lahive’s hands - with fresh marks and scratches following the incident at the library.
The court heard these pictures were taken by Ms Mills at Tralee Garda station, and this was witnessed by Garda O’Mahony.
Mr Lahive claims he was manhandled a number of times by different people during the incident, but does not know for certain which individual caused the marks. He also told the court he was sore after getting a puck in the left eye.
Under cross examination, Mr Lahive said that he is trained in and practices Mixed Martial Arts.
When asked in MMA do you learn to use force, he responded, I suppose so.
He said he live streamed the event on his Facebook page, however, he was not sure as to how the edited footage got onto his page.
Mr Lahive told the judge he operates an open Facebook page, has many followers and gets sent a lot of clips. Adding people post videos on his page all the time and he was uncertain as to who posted the edited video as played as evidence at the previous court sitting in Tralee.
Mr Rice put it to Mr Lahive that we are very fortunate to live in our country and in our democracy – which Mr Lahive agreed with.
Mr Rice continued, that we are lucky to live in Ireland, where we are entitled to our views and to express our views. Adding there are times when the words we speak are a criminal offence, that we are not entitled to use them to provoke a reaction from others.
He put it to Mr Lahive that he was asked to leave by two members of staff after barging into the event room.
Mr Lahive responded that this was a public event in a public space.
Judge David Waters interjected that there is no definite right for anyone to do what they want in a public space.
The judge said just because an event is public it does not mean it can’t be regulated.
Mr Rice agreed with the judge adding the example of the sitting before them - "This court is in a public building, the judge is in charge here, if he asks me to leave, I have to leave".
The cross examination continued with Mr Rice putting it to Mr Lahive that parents & guardians attending the event did not want him videoing. He responded that he did not consider their feelings, his focus wasn’t on this, it was on the event going on, which he described as nefarious.
When asked how would you feel if a group came into an event and began filming your children, Mr Lahive responded, I’m not a parent.
Mr Lahive added he believed that he didn’t use violence, that he was harassed physically during the incident, and was protecting his personal space, while volunteers used umbrellas against him, pushed him, grabbed him and put hands and phones in his face.
He added that he lost his composure and he was not proud of that, but that he was attacked.
Mr Lahive told the court he believes there are a certain class of people that are for grooming children; And if such a nefarious event is going on in a public building, he wants to expose it.
Mr Rice asked him how shouting words like "prostitutes" and "groomers" at volunteers was protecting children at the event, when the volunteers and event staff had all been garda vetted.
Mr Rice added that when Mr Lahive was trying to record from outside of the library, that the children were singing a song from the movie Frozen inside.
He added that this whole chain of events was set in motion by an unprovoked violent act by Mr Lahive.
Mr Lahive responded that he was there to protest peacefully and protect the children.
Judge Waters told the court that he still has some considerations to make and requested to view the video evidence once more.
He was shown four video clips, varying in length, including live streamed footage of the incident and an edited clip.
This featured video footage of the incident over the Manic Street Preachers song “If you tolerate this, then your children will be next”, and a number of insults and statements shouting during the incident were heard.
Following 4 hours of defense evidence and reviewing the videos, Judge David Waters adjourned the hearing.
The defendants were granted free legal aid by consent.
They will appear before a special sitting of Tralee District Court on December 16th for judgement.
