Joan Burton has told the 'Jobstown Seven' trial she had nightmares about what happened to her during a water charge protest when she was Tánaiste.

Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six others are accused of falsely imprisoning her and her adviser as they tried to leave a graduation ceremony in 2014.

Ms Burton claims she was trapped inside an unmarked garda car for one hour and a garda jeep for two when protestors surrounded the vehicles.

She said she was terrified and felt like she was running for her life when they were told to move to two other garda cars a few hours later.

She said their movement was particularly restricted when several people sat down on the road.

Under cross-examination, Padraig Dwyer, who is representing Frank Donaghy - a retired builder from Alpine Rise in Tallaght - asked her if she would accept that a sit-down protest is peaceful.

Not if it restricts one's ability to move, she replied.

After been shown a video clip taken from the garda helicopter above the protest, she told Mr Dwyer that she had nightmares about what happened for a significant period afterwards.

Her cross-examination will resume on Tuesday.