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Paul Murphy calls for protesters accused of falsely imprisoning Tánaiste to be tried together

Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy says he wants to be tried with all the other water charge&...
Newstalk
Newstalk

10.03 4 Apr 2016


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Paul Murphy calls for proteste...

Paul Murphy calls for protesters accused of falsely imprisoning Tánaiste to be tried together

Newstalk
Newstalk

10.03 4 Apr 2016


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Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy says he wants to be tried with all the other water charge protesters accused of falsely imprisoning the Tánaiste in Dublin.

He is one of 16 people facing trial after Joan Burton and one of her advisers were allegedly trapped in their car in Jobstown in November 2014.

A number of others are charged with various public order offences, and the DPP wants to split them into four groups and hold separate trials.

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Today, the court heard that the accused want detailed reasons for the DPP’s decision to do so, and a hearing on the issue may be needed next month.

Speaking afterwards, Deputy Murphy said there is a consensus among the group to have everyone tried together.

"The basic point is we're standing united as a group - we were involved in a peaceful protest a year-and-a-half ago, and we think that we should be tried together," he explained.

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 AAA's Paul 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 have already been set aside for the trials.


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