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OVER 20 PEOPLE will have charges brought against them in connection with an anti-water charges protest in Jobstown in Tallaght at which Tánaiste Joan Burton was trapped in her car for hours.
RTÉ News reports that the Director of Public Prosecutions has ordered that charges including false imprisonment, violent disorder and criminal damage be brought.
Over 40 people were arrested following the protest, which took place as Burton was speaking at a further education graduation.
The Garda Press Office told TheJournal.ie that the investigation is ongoing and “it would not be appropriate to comment”.
The Department of Justice says that the issue is a matter for the DPP.
It is not yet known if those charged will receive a summons to appear in court or be arrested.
Burton eventually left the scene in a Garda car after a tense stand-off with demonstrators, who banged on her vehicle chanting various slogans, including “peaceful protest”.
Those arrested in the two months after the protest included TD Paul Murphy and councillors Kieran Mahon and Mick Murphy.
Murphy this evening told TheJournal.ie that he believes he is one of those who will be charged with false imprisonment.
Murphy says that the charge is “very serious”, carrying a sentence of up to life imprisonment.
“The protest did not go beyond of other protests. There are multiple protests in the past where this has happened to ministers.
“I don’t think anyone who took part in the protest deserves to spend time time in prison.
It will be up to a jury to decide if the facts stand up to a false imprisonment charge. I don’t think they do.
“The mechanisms of this, I don’t know fully, but there is a clear political context here. That being that Irish Water is in trouble with non-payment and failing the Eurostat.
“It could be to discourage people from protesting, but I think it will backfire on the establishment. Massive resources will now be used on these cases.
If this is politically motivated, it has been badly, badly misjudged. People will not welcome Joan Burton being the star witness in a case of a protest which delayed her for two hours.
If Murphy is convicted for over six months, he can be removed from office under the 1992 Electoral Act.
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Will be a fine example to her child Jesus the cycle continues
Agree. The only hope to improve her offsprings chances would be to have them adopted at birth. Unfortunately us taxpayers will be supporting this delight and her offspring for eternity. Ironic also how the judge felt community service inappropriate due to her pregnancy.
Classy bird……
Probably a session moth…
A bird flying free.
Should have had her wings clipped.
Rough brazzer..
What an utter skanger, her second time to avoid jail time since the start of the year.
.
http://www.herald.ie/news/mumtobe-avoids-jail-for-attacking-four-gardai-in-rage-31016279.html
Very true Conor. I wonder if there’ll be any investigation into possible misleading of the court? highly unlikely..
What does a woman have to do to be sent to prison in Ireland? She has assaulted several Gardai, kicking one in the head – yet still walks free.
May be grounds for an appeal by the DPP if the judge wasn’t “fully informed”of all the facts inc.previous convictions….
This man has allowed a dangerous person free to harm others, he also mislead the court ( I say mislead but his pants are on fire ) can he be held responsible for the next assault this lady commits?
The lowest of the low, utter dirt. Gutter pig.
Sentenced to 6 years? Was home before the judge. What’s the deterrent?
The deterrent is that she’ll hit you if you say that again
Ah she’s a keeper alright, will definitely make an excellent mother.
How wonderful mother she’ll make
“Conor McKenna BL, defending, said this was a shocking and frightening assault but said his client has no other convictions involving violence.
He said she has taken part in anger awareness and alcohol offending courses since the assaults.”
I personally don’t believe what Mr McKenna told the court.
That dirtbag should have been made do hours and hours of community service and jail sentence! Pregnancy complications, my a…
“And then unto Zoe a get-out-of-jail card was born”
God I feel sorry for her kid!
another wonderful generation In the making
No reason not to get prison. Her pregnancy complications would receive the necessary treatment.
if you’re passing the Coombe in a few weeks and theres a wan standing outside having a smoke in her PJs and stillettos, for jaysus sake don’t make eye contact !!
Why this crazy stuff always happens in Tallaght , can we not cut out that whole area and shoved it in the Atlantic, hehe!
Racist
What a manky skanger.
I feel a Suspended Sentence in the force.
Mother of the year nomination right there! Shocking what people are getting away with and what do we expect when there is no deterrent.
Single white female!
Also where does the brother work?!!
It is a female privilege to not do time, especially when your white. Where’s all the usual suspect oppressed feminists on this article?… Probably busy making up statistics to fight the patriarch.
Skanger shes the local how-ah-yeaa!!
Why is the headline even mentioning pregnancy – the attack was in 2013 – she wasn’t pregnant then and even so if if a pregnant person cannot be discriminated against under labour law then there should be no concession given to any person that breaks the law and uses a condition chosen by then possibly as a means of avoiding jail time. The Journal should not be using tabloid headlines like this
What pregnant woman wears stiletto shoes?
Pregnancy complications didn’t stop her from using her stiletto shoes as weapons…
Shocking! Had pregnancy complications so implanted her stiletto on some blokes head…main thing is she was cooperative though….
21 pregnant, already done for drunk driving assault and being abusive to Gardai. I pity that foetus.
god what a classy bird….I’d say her child would be so proud…what do people have to do to get sent to prison these days??
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