A claim by a Fine Gael TD that a pro-life protest outside a GP’s practice subjected patients to “obstruction and intimidation” appears to be without foundation as the gathering in question occurred on the day the practice was closed, according to Gript Media.

Speaking in the Dail, Neale Richmond said that “patients of the GP practice in my village of Stepaside became the latest to be subjected to an act of sheer obstruction and intimidation by so-called protesters, simply because that medical practice offers full maternal and reproductive care, as per the laws of this land.”

He claimed that the protest was held on Monday. However, Gript have confirmed that the protest he was referring to was actually held on Saturday, the 28th of May. Stepaside Medical does not open on weekends and there were, therefore, no patients attending the practice during the protest.

Richmond did not respond to questions asking if he, having been informed by Gript of his error, still stood over his description of the protest, and, if so, who exactly he believes the protesters had obstructed or intimidated.