A son of Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has admitted assaulting a Garda in Dublin, after getting into a row with a taxi driver after a night out.

The judge told 24-year-old Fearghal Ó Snodaigh he could avoid a criminal conviction if he engages positively with the restorative justice programme.

Fearghal Ó Snodaigh was extremely intoxicated when he entered Ballymun Garda station on February 28th 2018 following a dispute with a taxi driver.

When Gardaí tried to calm him down, he squared up to one Garda in a "threatening manner" and spat at another after refusing to be searched.

He was taken to a cell before being released into his father's custody.

His father, Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, also accompanied his son to court.

His barrister told the court he wanted to plead guilty to the charges and was genuinely sorry for what happened.

She said he is doing a Masters at the moment and is hoping to work in the US afterwards. A criminal conviction could make that difficult.

He came to court with €500 for charity, but Judge Patricia Ryan said she wanted him to engage with the restorative justice programme to get an insight into how his actions affect others.

She said she would consider striking the case out if the report is positive when he comes before her again in February.

Main image: Sinn Féin TD Aengus O Snodaigh on the plinth at Leinster House in 2016 | Image: RollingNews.ie

Reporting by Frank Greaney