A DUBLIN MAN accused of punching a woman as she canvassed for President Catherine Connolly has been granted more time to consider his plea due to industrial action by solicitors.

Daniel Soave (39), of Portland Row, Dublin 1, appeared again at Dublin District Court today. He was expected to indicate a plea but had no lawyer due to an ongoing dispute between solicitors and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan over free legal aid reforms.

Soave agreed with Judge Michele Finan to have the case put back, and she adjourned it until 19 October for a plea to be entered.

The incident allegedly occurred on 24 October 2025, on North Strand Road near the Five Lamps, as a group of campaigners canvassed ahead of the presidential election for Catherine Connolly alongside Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. Footage of the incident later went viral online.

Soave is charged with assault causing harm to a named woman, and two public order counts of engaging in threatening, abusive, and insulting behaviour.

Garda Colm Maguire previously testified that Soave made no reply to the public order charges. However, in response to the assault charge, he stated: “What’s that all about? Complete lies, I never pushed anybody.”

Judge Finan had already accepted jurisdiction to deal with the case in the District Court, rather than the Circuit Court, after hearing an outline of the prosecution’s evidence.

The court previously heard that at around 4.55pm, a man pushed the canvassers and “punched one of the lady canvassers to the face, knocking her to the ground”. She was taken to hospital, but no further medical treatment was sought.

An order for disclosure of prosecution evidence has already been granted to the defence.

Soave remains on bail.

Legal aid was previously granted after the court heard he earned €600 a week but a large amount went on his rent.