A POLITICIAN was arrested three times by Gardaí in the space of 36 hours after attending a popular Cork music festival.

The man was arrested by Gardaí in north Cork after he had apparently attended the Indiependence music festival in Mitchelstown.

The politician, who is not from Cork, is a keen music fan and is understood to have attended the festival with friends.

He has served at both local and national government levels.

However, officers became concerned about the man’s apparently erratic behaviour in the vicinity of the popular three day music event on Sunday afternoon.

After approaching him, one officer was verbally abused by the man.

He then refused to calm down or leave the area as directed by other officers.

After several warnings, he was finally detained and taken to a nearby garda station.

It is understood the man vehemently protested about being detained and was argumentative with officers.

During one angry confrontation it is alleged that one garda was assaulted.

The officer was not injured and did not require medical treatment.

The man is also alleged to have spat towards another officer.

Several hours later, the man was released without charge from the station.

However, just over 90 minutes later he was detained by other officers outside Mitchelstown for suspected drink driving.

He was brought back to a garda station for a second time.

After being released, a third incident occurred in the Mitchelstown area later on Monday evening and the man was re-arrested.

This incident is understood to have involved a public order matter similar to what allegedly happened on Sunday afternoon.

The politician was taken to Fermoy Garda Station and detained overnight given that he was assessed as potentially posing a risk to himself and others given his condition.

He has since been released.

It remains unclear what action, if any, will result from the detentions.

However, a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) given the alleged incidents in the garda station after the man's first detention.

The politician was expected to be released without charge to be collected by his family.

The Indiependence festival, where the headline acts included BellX1 and Walking On Cars, was hailed as a tremendous success.

Organisers indicated that the numbers attending were significantly up on previous years.

The event, staged on the outskirts of Mitchelstown, ranks as one of the fastest expanding music festivals in Ireland.

Online Editors