39-year-old South Galway farmer Joseph Baldwin accused of throwing cow dung at Minister Anne Rabbitte during a public meeting.

South Galway farmer Joseph Baldwin, 39, accused of throwing cow dung at Minister for State Anne Rabbitte during a public meeting, has told a court it was a "small incident" and something he "probably should regret". Baldwin, from Ballyaneen, Gort, is charged with assaulting Rabbitte on January 4th at O'Sullivans Royal Hotel, Gort. The assault charge is contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, but Rabbitte was never struck by the bag. Baldwin's case has had "serious repercussions" for him, affecting his family, work, and reputation.