Protester throws egg at Sarkozy

2008-07-24 19:10

Dublin - A French waiter who threw an egg at the car carrying President Nicholas Sarkozy during his visit to Dublin this week is ready to do the same again, he told Irish media on Thursday.

Michael Audron, 35, was charged on Monday with "threatening, insulting and abusive behaviour", but a judge in Dublin district court threw out the indictment after he agreed to pay €150 to charity.

The unrepentant protestor, who was among 1 800 demonstrators who took to the streets during the visit over Ireland's rejection of a new EU treaty, has acknowledged he has more eggs on standby for any return visit by Sarkozy.

"I have absolutely no regrets and, if he is coming back again, I will be there with more than a dozen eggs," he told the Irish Times.

He is using eggs to pay his fine by making crepes every night this week at a street festival in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, in the northwest of Ireland where he has lived for several years.

The egg-throwing was the only public order incident during a visit by Sarkozy who had talks with the Irish government about the country's shock 53% rejection of the European Union's key Lisbon Treaty last month.

France currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

- AFP