Cork man Ross Lahive appears in court after allegedly attacking volunteers at ‘drag story time’ event at Kerry County Library in Tralee - SundayWorld.com

Ross Lahive said he was there to showcase the ‘nefarious’ event and the ‘child grooming’ that was taking place

Ross Lahive

A man who is accused of four separate counts of assault at Tralee Library after it is alleged he disrupted a ‘drag story-time’ event said he was there to showcase the ‘nefarious’ event and the ‘child grooming’ that was taking place.

Ross Lahive was giving evidence in the court case of three people, including him, who are facing charges after they allegedly forced their way into the library’s event room and allegedly assaulted several people at the event, as well as causing disruption during the Kingdom Pride event.

Defence evidence was heard at Listowel District Court this week in what is the second day of the case.

Previously the prosecution evidence was heard, which included video footage from the library that day which appears to show the group of protestors shouting abuse. The group had been asked to leave but had refused to do, the court was previously told.

The accused – Ross Lahive (45) of Church Street, Shandon Street, Cork; Margo Mills (37) of Carnloch Drive, The Glen, Cork; and Stephen McGeough (57) of Devonshire Street, Cork, are facing charges arising out of the incident at Kerry County Library, Moyderwell, Tralee, on July 13, 2023.

Mr Lahive is facing four counts of assault on that day as well as one for public order while Margo Mills is facing one assault charge and Steven McGeough is facing a public order charge.

Mr Lahive is alleged to have assaulted Timothy Clifford, Dave Ryan, Sabrina Crotty and Daniel Quirke.

In a lengthy hearing at Listowel District Court the three accused said they were there to peacefully protest having heard about the event on social media. They were represented by SC Eugene P Manley who led them through their evidence. Legal aid has been granted to all three.

Mr Lahive said that they were ‘set upon’ when they entered the library as they prepared to enter the room where they suspected the event was taking place.

"We wanted to highlight what we feel is a concerning issue. We feel it is inappropriate for children that a person of the opposite sex was dressing up and reading inappropriate books,” he said.

He told the court he used ‘appropriate force’ to enter the room as they tried to record the event. He said they were stopped from doing so by volunteers using umbrellas in an aggressive manner. He said they were recording the event, not the children

He said he felt it was ‘unbelievable’ that “people were protecting “child grooming” adding he had no issue with the gay or lesbian community.

In cross-examination Barrister Tom Rice said that Mr Lahive initiated the first contact with any person as he entered the room and arising out of this he is charged with assault. He denied the charge and said he didn't think it was illegal to use ‘appropriate force’

"What made you think your use of force was legal,” said Mr Rice adding Mr Lahive learned force through his MMA background.

Mr Rice said that everyone was ‘fortunate to live in a country where people have freedom of thought and can express their views but there are times when the words we speak are a criminal offence. They are rare occasions .. they are when you are speaking words to provoke.”

Mr Lahive said he disagreed that he should leave the building when told to as it is a ‘public building’ and he said he felt he had a right to video the event. He said his focus was not on the parents’ feelings but on “exposing the nefarious event.”

"Do you think there is some reason you are allowed to use force because of your beliefs?” asked Mr Rice. Mr Lahive said he didn’t harm anyone. He has denied all assault charges. He conceded under cross-examination that he did lose his composure and did insult people and he was not proud of that.

Stephen McGeough said he entered the library and felt there was a ‘tense’ atmosphere and that it was ‘strange’ that people were standing at the door of the event because members of the public could not enter. He said Mr Lahive entered first, then he entered and Margo but he said within a minute he was ejected.

"I was being corralled and pushed out,” he said.

He said when gardaí arrived he told them he was on a ‘peaceful mission’

"You saw the videos surely it is clear that you and your friends made a plan [to] turn on your phone and burst into the room where children were?” Mr Rice asked.

Mr McGeough said he would not agree with ‘burst’. He said they were not videoing children but were videoing for their own protection. Mr Rice said the group conferred before entering and that Mr McGeough could be heard saying “Not now, there is too many people.”

He said he didn’t recall that. He told the court he could not see any reason why he shouldn’t be let in as it was a public event and he is the “same as the rest of the public.”

Mr Rice said that the group ‘baited’ the organisers who thankfully did not react. Mr McGeough said the provocation was from the organisers.

"You ran around the side of the building. Is that not provocation when children had been brought to safety?” asked Mr Rice.

Mr McGeough said the volunteers were using “umbrellas like riot shields coming at us” and concluding that they were there “to peacefully protest for the protection of children.”

Ms Mills said she did not leave when asked to because she wanted to stay with Mr Lahive. She said she was not a violent person and that she was not recording children just the event. She said he was recording it for their protection and that she was in a ‘state of shock’ leaving the library.

Mr McGeough’s wife, Joanna, who is not charged in relation to the incident, also gave evidence. She said the atmosphere had been ‘frosty’. She said she videoed the library, not the children, to see was there ‘inappropriate books’. She denied being sent in and said she volunteered.

She said she saw the other three protesters enter the room from a distance but not what happened in there but said they were blocked from filming by the umbrellas.

Judge David Waters looked at the video recordings again. He said he had to decide on three issues, which are if each of the three defendants are guilty of the offences before the court, nothing else. He adjourned the case to December 16.