AN IRISHMAN has been fined AU$2,200 (€1,770) by an Australian court after kicking a politician in the bum during a televised press conference.

Darren Heraty told the court that a friend had bet him $200 to “make contact” with John Elferink, a member of the local parliament in Australia’s Northern Territory who is now the state’s attorney general, while Elferink was speaking to reporters on the side of a street.

NTNews quotes defence lawyer John Bradley as saying the accused did not known who Elferink was – and admitted his clients actions were “a stupid, drunken prank”.

“He placed his foot on Mr Elferink’s buttocks – it was not a forceful kick,” Bradley told Darwin Magistrates Court.

“Most of the day was a blur but he does remember the incident.”

ABC says magistrate Greg Cavanagh gave Heraty, 24, four weeks to pay the fine. He described the incident as “an insult to this law-abiding community” and an attack on free democratic expression.

A second Irishman, 28-year-old Seán Nolan, is facing an assault charge for grabbing Elferink in a headlock while he was attempting to place a citizens’ arrest on Heraty. He is to contest the charge.

Footage of the incident, which occurred on the afternoon of August 5, quickly went viral after being posted on YouTube.

(YouTube: gakyoungtube)