Anti-masker claimed he cured his Covid – with tea and toast

By Ann Healy

A failed general election candidate who has refused to get a Covid vaccine or wear a mask in court for the last two years, told Judge Mary Fahy this week he caught the virus twice since the pandemic began – and while he found the Omicron variant worse than last year’s Delta, he claimed he had successfully cured himself with tea, 7-Up, toast, and paracetamol.

Daragh O’Flaherty (45), who has had various former addresses in the homeless shelter at the Fairgreen, then Shannon, Knock and more recently again, the Fairgreen Hostel, blamed himself for catching the virus by not heeding his Granny’s advice many years ago of not going to bed with wet hair.

He appeared before the court on foot of a bench warrant which was issued for his arrest when he failed to turn up in court on December 15 last.

O’Flaherty, who was an unsuccessful independent candidate in Galway West at the last election, presented himself voluntarily this week and was taken into custody by Garda Padraic Kelly who executed the warrant in court.

Judge Mary Fahy asked him if he would like to apply for a solicitor to represent him under the free legal aid scheme but he declined.

Flaherty faces several charges, which the judge has adjourned to a special court hearing on May 31.

He faces a charge of trespassing at UHG, between St Nicholas Ward and St Pius Ward, without reasonable excuse on January 6 last year in a manner as caused or was likely to cause fear in another person.

He has also previously been charged with loitering in a public place at Dublin Road, Galway on September 6, 2020, and with failing to comply with the directions of Garda Kevin Molyneaux to leave the area.

He also faces further charges of failing to appear before the court to answer his bail in relation to above charges.

Garda Kelly said he had no objection to O’Flaherty getting bail this week as he had presented himself voluntarily to the court.

O’Flaherty, who referred to Judge Fahy as “ma-am” at all times, told her  he meant no disrespect to her by not showing up in court on December 15.

“I disrespected you by not showing up, but it was because of Omicron.  I got two doses of Covid, one in March 2020, but this one in December was worse.

“The reason is I had a shower and I went to bed with wet hair in a bedroom I wasn’t familiar with and I woke up a couple of hours later blue,” he said.

“If you had worn a mask like the rest of us, you might not have got it,” Judge Fahy advised him.

The judge asked him if he had got vaccinated.

“No, I don’t engage in chemical experiments,” he replied.

“So, you’re not vaccinated and you don’t wear a mask but you did get the virus twice,” the judge observed.

O’Flaherty said the second time he got it, he only had a little sniffle, but it got worse when he went to bed with wet hair.

Judge Fahy told him she accepted he had a genuine reason for not showing up to court in December.

O’Flaherty told the judge he had a number of bench warrants in existence already and he asked her not to record this one from December as he was sick at the time.

The judge told him he would be getting bail and she remanded him on bail on his own surety of €200 to appear before the special court sitting on May 31.

Before leaving the courtroom, O’Flaherty told the judge he cured himself with tea and toast on the first day he fell ill, and 7-Up and toast on the second day, “along with good old paracetamol”, he added.

“Thanks for the advice.  I hope I don’t need it,” Judge Fahy replied.