NOT quite bloodied but definitely unbowed, Mr David Norris made a point of being in the House at the start of business yesterday.
He had suffered an assault early yesterday morning near his north Dublin inner city home. He did not lament his painful experience but regretted that he had not been equipped at the time with his faithful shillelagh.
Members on all sides expressed relief that the most colourful member of the Upper House had not been badly injured in the attack. The Cathaoirleach Mr Liam Cosgrave, said that he had been horrified at the news. "I am glad he has displayed his usual resilience and courage by being here."
The Fianna Fail leader in the Seanad, Mr G V Wright, concurred, saying of Mr Norris: "I am sure that when he spoke recently in this House about this kind of incident, he never thought he would be here this morning as a witness to the fact."
Ms Jan O'Sullivan (Lab) was delighted that Mr Norris was able to attend to criticise the Government's Universities Bill with his usual style and vigour. The Seanad Leader, Mr Maurice Manning, took up her theme. "I am glad Mr Norris is with us today. There are dangers in being a university senator of which we were not aware. So we will have to have greater respect for him from now on.
Mr Pat Magner (Lab) agreed it had been a disgraceful assault, "although its not easy to close the senator's mouth".
Mr Norris thanked his Seanad colleagues for their expressions of concern and outrage. He recalled that he had previously voiced worries about troublesome behaviour in the environs of his home.
Tuesday night's incident had followed a Georgian preservation society meeting at which he had been present. Concerned about noise at the rear of his residence, he had gone out to remonstrate with those involved and had received "a clout in the face".
He understood that later a young man had been critically injured following a fracas at a nightclub. Mr Norris said he was already on record in the Seanad in wondering why these clubs were allowed to disgorge drunken youths on to the streets at 2 a.m or 3 a.m. A planning application had been made to add another "late night shebeen" to this list. He hoped the Minister would increase the Garda strength in the area.
"Last night the gardai, who were efficient, arrived on the scene quickly and attempted to find those involved. I informed them that this is the kind of thing that happens when one goes out without one's shillelagh."
THE Leader of the Seanad defended the right of gardai to stage a democratic protest at the gates of Leinster House.
However, most members might feel, as he did, that the march decision was an error of judgment, according to Mr Manning (FG). He was responding to a call by Mr Michael Mulcahy (FF) that the Minister for Justice inform the House if any emergency plans had been made to staff Garda stations during the protest.