A politician was arrested three times by gardaí over the bank holiday weekend, for being drunk and disorderly and for suspected drink-driving, while attending the Indiependence Festival in Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

The politician, who is in his 30s and has served at national level, was arrested by gardaí in Mitchelstown at about 11.30pm on Sunday after he was ejected from the music festival.

He was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and was taken to Fermoy Garda station, where it is alleged that he assaulted a garda before being processed and released at about 9am on Monday.

It is understood that the politician was verbally abusive to gardaí at the festival venue and that in the course of the arrest, he spat at the arresting officers.

Second arrest

The politician was later arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after gardaí stopped him while he was driving a car in Mitchelstown on Monday morning.

He was again taken to Fermoy Garda station.

The man was later released but he was arrested a third time later on Monday for being drunk and disorderly in Fermoy, where he accosted gardaí.

He was being detained at Fermoy Garda station on Monday night.

Gardaí are expected to prepare a file in relation to the alleged assault of an officer in Fermoy Garda station.