Varadkar condemns attack on Councillor’s home

Mike Finnerty 20 Jul 2023

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has condemned an attack on the family home of a Councillor in South Dublin.

Independent councillor for Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Hugh Lewis has said a rock was thrown through the window of the house on Monday night.

The rock smashed through the window while his father was the only person inside.

A note attached to the rock called on the councillor to “stop supporting refugees.”

Speaking to reporters following a trip to Ukraine, Mr Varadkar said: “I want to condemn, unreservedly, the attack that happened on Councillor Lewis’ home.”

“Whatever views people may have, there is no excuse for attacking any individual or attacking their property.”

“That’s absolutely wrong and should be condemned by everyone unreservedly.”

During his trip to Ukraine, where the Taoiseach met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Taoiseach also met with actor Oleksandr Hrekov who suffered injuries following an attack outside the Abbey Theatre in June.

Hrekov, who was in Dublin to perform in a production of Translations, was attacked outside the Abbey Theatre in an incident that required hospitalisation, and the Taoiseach apologised for the attack.

“I’m sorry for what happened. Dublin is my home town, but sometimes not 100% safe, unfortunately,” he told the actor, and expressed hope for an Irish company to perform the play in Ukraine.

“I know from our history theatre and art was a very important part of our national identity, because we were part of the United Kingdom and we were almost overwhelmed by English culture.”

“Art and music and language and theatre was very important for us in protecting our Irish identity and I know in Ukraine you are fighting now to affirm your identity as a nation, and I think the arts is a very important part of that too.”