Paul Murphy has been granted legal aid for his upcoming trial.

The Anti Austerity Alliance TD faces charges of falsely imprisoning acting Tánaiste Joan Burton during a water charges protest almost 18 months ago.

There was no garda objection to legal aid based on the figures in documentation presented by Deputy Murphy's solicitor.

Fiona Ferguson, News Editor at CCC.Nuacht, spoke to Newstalk Lunchtime about the brief hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this morning.

Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell were allegedly trapped in their car by water charge protesters while trying to leave a graduation ceremony in Jobstown.

18 people have been sent forward for trial in connection with the incident. 16 of them, including Deputy Murphy and two of the party’s local Councillors, are accused of false imprisonment – a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

A block of four weeks next April has already been set aside for the trials.