McSavage on ‘casual trading' rap

Irish comedian Dave McSavage – the son of former government minister David Andrews – has been charged with illegally trading in Dublin city centre.

The 42-year-old stand-up, who has performed at the last two Edinburgh festivals and is also well known as a busker, has appeared in court charged with ‘casual trading’ on Grafton Street.

He was arrested on December 15 for allegedly selling DVDs of one of his theatre performances without the relevant licence.

McSavage – real name David Andrews Jr - was remanded on bail to reappear at Dublin District Court againon February 21.

Leaving the court, McSavage posed for photographers, holding his arm aloft and saying: 'Freedom.'

After he was arrested, McSavage wrote on his website that it ‘was kind of pathetic’, and boasted of shifting 200 of his €20 DVDs in one day during his street performances in Cork, even though he didn't have a casual trading licence.

The Andrews family is one of the most prominent in Irish politics, with McSavage’s grandfather, Todd Andrews, one of the founding fathers of the Fianna Fail party.

David Andrews was Fianna Fáil’s Foreign Minister at the time of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, but resigned from his seat two years later. He is now chairman of the Irish Red Cross and of the insurance company, MGM International.

Published: 10 Jan 2006