Paul Murphy has reiterated his claim that there is political policing at the heart of garda treatment of himself and other Irish Water protesters.

The Garda Representative Association has rebuked the suggestion from Paul Murphy TD that Gardaí are involved in political policing against Irish Water protesters, in an editorial in the Garda Review in which there was a detailed response to the allegation.

Despite this, Paul Murphy has today reiterated his insistence that “we’re suggesting political policing is taking place” in relation to Irish Water protesters, and the Anti Austerity Alliance.

Mr Murphy originally made the claim in relation to a garda investigation of the detention of the Tánaiste Joan Burton in her car for two hours in Jobstown, by a large crowd of protesters. Murphy was one of several people later arrested and charged over the incident.

This was followed by the decision of a superintendent to ban the Anti Austerity Alliance from fundraising door to door in southwest Dublin, on the basis that the gardaí felt some of the money could go towards protests.

Speaking to The Pat Kenny Show about the attitude of gardaí towards water charge protesters, Mr Murphy said: “There’s nothing wrong with organising protest.

“This is justification for denying a collection on the basis that the money be used (for protest).

Mr Murphy also said that, in relation to the Jobstown incident, “Nobody has been convicted ... and the presumption of innocence has been thrown out the window” for the protesters.

He also said that while “Gardaí don’t have to agree with (our protests) it is our constitutional right (to protest)”.

Listen to the full interview with Paul Murphy below