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Updated 12.33pm
SOLIDARITY TD PAUL Murphy and five other men have been found not guilty of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser during a 2014 water charges protest.
The jury of seven men and four women returned the unanimous verdicts today after just over three hours of deliberations.
The court room, which was packed to capacity, erupted in cheers as the verdicts were handed down shortly after midday. There were cheers of “No way, we won’t pay” and several supporters broke down in tears.
Paul Murphy, South Dublin County Councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon, Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy and Michael Banks were on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for over two months. They nodded and smiled as the not guilty verdicts were handed down.
They had pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014.
It is a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The charges against a seventh accused, Purcell (50), of Kiltalown Green, Tallaght, were dropped towards the end of the prosecution case after Judge Greally ruled that the extension of his garda detention in February 2015 was unlawful.
Judge Greally thanked the jury for their “exemplary” service and told them they had shown extreme bravery and courage in taking on the case. A juror was discharged halfway through the trial for personal reasons.
She exempted them from jury service for life. There were further cheers in court as she told the six men they were free to go.
The 40 day trial, which started on April 26, heard the two women were attending a graduation ceremony at An Cosán adult education centre in Jobstown when demonstrations broke out around them.
The jury heard they were detained in vehicles for three hours as they attempted to leave the area.
The prosecution case was that by surrounding the cars, the accused men engaged in a joint enterprise to “trap” the women and totally restrain their liberty.
The defence argued that their clients engaged in a peaceful protest and this could not amount to false imprisonment. They submitted that at worst, their clients were engaged in obstructing a vehicle or delaying and inconveniencing the women.
Paul Murphy (34) of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran Mahon (39) of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy (53) of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Michael Banks (46) of Brookview Green; Scott Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght and Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise, Tallaght had all denied the charges.
When asked for a comment, a garda spokesperson said:
An Garda Siochana do not comment on matters which are or have been before the courts.
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That’s a shame…. Middle East royalty share Andrews values towards women and victims, I would have said it was the perfect destination
@Tony Henry: Good point. He could Marry four or five 14 year olds over there and they wouldn’t blink an eye!
@Tony Henry: he could just join the Church of the Latter Day Saints and do it here. No need to travel or change religion. Plus you get more wives.
@Tony Henry: Have people forgotten what Prince Phillips rumours were as well?
When you have everything, but it’s not enough.
@Hippocampus: he is a nasty piece of work, not particularly bright staying in a child traffickers house for 4 days after telling him their friendship was over.
Why hasn’t he been arrested?
@Darren Davitt: Diplomatic Immunity…
@Ryan Maher: That old chestnut!
@Darren Davitt: not even allowed to investigate never mind arrest. Completely outside the law.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: As far as I know, only Charles and William and his eldest son have immunity.
He be right at home there
I’d avoid going down any tunnels in a fast car for a while old bean…….amazing how a nasty accident happens to a royal who doesn’t meet the standards and upsets lizzie. Be a terrible thing to happen again
He’s cancelled the trip as he realizes he should stay away from places with trafficked girls for a while.
@Steve O’Shea: The Saudis are famous for raping their Indian house staff / slaves and when they fall pregnant then dump them back into India as fast as possible…
Financially supported by his mother? Classic. I’m always dumbfounded that the brits put up with this craic and the blood line going back to Germany, which I might have accidentally read before? As I wouldn’t be investigating such things, as I couldn’t give a @€(& but think the google machine once showed me in passing.
@devvrox: I will never understand it either. They give out about welfare scroungers over there. The Royal Family are the biggest of the lot. Plus as you say they are German so they are welfare scrounging immigrants! I think that was one of the reasons for the Brexit argument?!?
@devvrox: She will rubber stamp him lol.
Given ME proclivities, I would have thought he’d well received over there.
The randy old Duke of York
He liked his school girls young
His best friend Epstein was the source
for all his party fun
It took a forensic journalist
With intricate interview skill
To bring down this predator prince
To public horror and thrill
But don’t forget his victims
They have been to Hell
They deserve justice now
It’s time HRH did tell.
He really is extremely, intellectually challenged. Perhaps lucky for him is that he doesn’t know how much trouble he is in. And as for that harridan of an ex wife, a more disgusting piece of work is rarely found. And he takes advice from her.
Two words sounds like ‘dying stunt’
@Patrick Fitzgibbon: crying grunt?
@Joey Navinski: nope try again
From my brother:
Oh the Grand Old Duke of York
He told 10,000 lies
He abused a bunch of teenage girls
And would not apologise.
And the lies he told were crap.
He grimaced like a clown.
And when on the BBC last night
They hung him upside down…
Apparently he’s heading to Paris for a weekend breakaway from all the hubbub he’s caused.
Mothers suggestion.
Is he still going to Thailand these days???
have your say