Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy says he plans to vigorously defend charges of falsely imprisoning the Tánaiste and one of her advisers.

The DPP has directed that he stand trial before judge and jury along with several others, including two Anti-Austerity Alliance councillors.

Hundreds gathered outside court today in support of Mr Murphy who has been accused of false imprisonment offences during a water charge protest in Jobstown in Dublin last November.

Speaking outside the courts Mr Murphy told a crowd of supporters he would use his trial to send a political message.

"Brutal political policing has been so blatantly exposed in this state over the course of the past year," Mr Murphy said.

He added "we're going to put them in the dock, we're going to make the the guilty ones, and they will rue the day that they attempted to take on Jobstown, or Crumlin or any other working class community across the state."

Ms Burton and Karen O'Connell were allegedly trapped in their car for several hours following a graduation ceremony in Jobstown in Dublin last November.

Deputy Murphy is one of 34 people summonsed to court this afternoon, to face charges in relation to various demonstrations.

United Left Alliance TD Joan Collins has also appeared in court - charged with failing to comply with the directions of a garda during a protest in Crumlin in April.