A water charges protester who dubbed President Micheal D. Higgins a "midget parasite" has been summoned to appear in court over the comments.

Derek Byrne revealed on his Facebook page that he was summoned to appear in court on November 2 to face a charge of using threatening, insulting or abusive language.

Expand Close Derek Byrne, from Donaghmeade speaks at a water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015 / Facebook

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Whatsapp Derek Byrne, from Donaghmeade speaks at a water protest outside Covill House on Talbot Street, headquarters of Irish Water. Picture credit; Damien Eagers 1/4/2015

Byrne was recorded calling Mr. Higgins a "midget parasite" as the President left Coláiste Eoin school in Finglas on January 22.

Byrne, of the ‘Dublin says no’ and ‘Ireland says no to water charges’ Facebook groups, later admitted to making the comments on his personal Facebook page.

He posted: "First of all, I am the person in the video who slated the Irish President.

"He may be your president but he ain't my president. I have no shame in labelling Mickey D as a little sell-out midget parasite."

During an interview on Classic Hits 4FM, Derek Byrne apologised for resorting to personal insults. “I shouldn’t have called him a midget,” he said. However, Mr Byrne said he would not apologise for calling the President a parasite.

Byrne took to Facebook this week to to reveal the fact that he had been summonsed to court over the comments.

"Looks like the Government are going hell for leather to get everyone in the water movement on whatever they can.

"Just been summonsed to court on Nov. 2 for the Midget Parasite protest," he wrote.

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