Taoiseach Simon Harris was forced to cut short a canvassing event in Castlebar, Co Mayo, due to a vocal protest involving members of the Burke family.
He was challenged by the family of Enoch Burke, the secondary school teacher currently in prison for contempt of court for refusing to stay away from the school where he worked.
Speaking after the incident, Mr Harris criticised “thinly-veiled thuggery” and “toxicity” from a small number of people across the country.
Mr Burke was dismissed by the school amid a row linked to a request for him to use they/them pronouns when addressing a student.
The Taoiseach also faced barracking from protesters in Castlebar about state provision of asylum seeker accommodation in the county.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, European election candidate in Midlands-North West Maria Walsh, Mayo TD Michael Ring and former taoiseach Enda Kenny were also present.
Mr Harris dismissed the incidents when asked by reporters.
“Protest has an important role to play in any democracy,” he said.
“I’ve been protested at and I have been on protests during my political career.
“But there’s a difference between protest and an attempt to, I suppose, significantly disrupt.
“But I think as people know about me, it takes an awful lot to disrupt my energy, and I certainly enjoyed continuing to talk to people in Castlebar, calling into cafes, calling into shops, getting out the message.
“And, look, if people want to people want to participate in democracy they’re very welcome, we have an election on Friday.”
A spokesman for Mr Harris called for a full Garda investigation.
“What happened in Mayo today was not protest. It was thuggery,” he said.
“The Taoiseach would like to thank An Garda Síochána for their professionalism. A member of An Garda Síochána was hit during the scenes and the Taoiseach was pushed and jostled by a small number of people.
“It is not representative of what has been a really healthy canvass for the majority of politicians across the country as people in Ireland are decent and law abiding.
“Although it was a very small number of people, today’s behaviour cannot be accepted and should never be normalised and a full Garda investigation should be carried out.
“The people of Mayo were warm and welcoming today and the Taoiseach really enjoyed meeting so many people across much of the county and thanks them for their time.” - Additional reporting from Press Association
