A court has heard that some protesters allegedly shouted they hoped Joan Burton and her advisor would die during an anti-water charge demonstration in Jobstown in Co Dublin.

A 17-year-old boy denies falsely imprisoning the former Tánaiste and her advisor in two garda cars during the protest almost two years ago.

Ms Burton told the Children’s Court she had been attending a graduation ceremony in an Cosan in Jobstown when she saw some protestors.

Joan Burton said she was walking to a nearby church and two water balloons were thrown at her.

The Labour TD described getting into the back of an unmarked garda car with her advisor and people were banging on it and using derogatory terms.

The women were transferred to another garda car and Ms Burton said during this she felt she was about to fall and she nearly lost her shoe.

The crowd were aggressive and surging very tightly, she said.

In cross examination, Ms Burton denied she had been considering how she would present the situation politically.

Her former advisor, Karen O’Connell, also gave evidence and said she was crying during the alleged incident and Joan Burton was trying to calm her down.

Ms O’Connell told the Children’s Court at one stage some protesters were shouting at the car that they hoped the women died.

The public order unit arrived - the court heard - and the women were driven away in separate cars.