Gardai investigating after Meath county councillor has brick hurled through window of his home

Louise Walsh

A local politician has refused to stand down on his stance against anti-social behaviour after a brick was thrown through the front window of his home on Wednesday night.

Cllr Alan Lawes' adult daughter was alone in the house and was left unhurt but badly shaken when she heard the crash of breaking glass at her home in Johnstown, Co. Meath around 10pm.

The independent Meath county councillor who is well-known for being vocal against anti-social behaviour and drugs in his area believes the attack was linked to Halloween night when he was assaulted by youths in his attempts at extinguishing a bonfire.

After standing up to youths on the night, he received a threatening phone call on Tuesday claiming 'his home was next'.

He believes this is a reference to other incidents where homes in the area have been targetted in anti-social area attacks in recent times.

Cllr Lawes has been very vocal on anti-social instances and arranged a well-attended meeting between the community and gardai on the issues in recent weeks..

"I was in Dublin when my home was targeted last night but my daughter was on her own and she was obviously frightened by this attack," he said.

"I believe this incident is linked to Halloween night when fireworks, bottles and other missiles were thrown at me while I tried to pull pallets from a bonfire at the nearby park."

Although one missile hit him in the arm, the youths scarpered when the fire services arrived after Cllr Lawes rang 999.

The councillor is a voluntary director of the upkeep of the public park and this was the first fire lit in recent years.

"I was pulling the pallets from the fire with one hand, getting missiles and verbal abuse hurled at me and trying to ring 999 with the other hand."

"On Tuesday, I was driving with two other local volunteers when I received a call from an unknown number with a voice saying 'we're coming for your house next,'

" I actually joked about it as I received other threats in the past but I was shocked that this happened and horrified that my daughter was in the house alone at the time and could've easily been injured.

"We are looking at other people's door cams at the minute to try and get some identification on the culprit or culprits but I won't stand down.

"These youths have and are trying to intimidate people in this area into being scared of them. They do and will not rule this area and have no right to destroy the area's reputation as a great place to live and the right to live in peace and safety of their own homes".

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating an incident of criminal damage at a residential premises in the Johnstown area of Navan, Co. Meath on Wednesday, 5th November 2025