Courts / Dublin / Report

Judge tells legal teams in TD's upcoming trial that jury selection will be "difficult exercise"

Summary

Judge Melanie Greally addressed legal teams at a pre-trial hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court regarding the upcoming trial of Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon, and four other men. The defendants face charges arising from the alleged false imprisonment of then Tánaiste Joan Burton during a water protest in Jobstown on November 15, 2014. The judge warned that jury selection would be a "difficult exercise" due to potential sympathies for either side, instructing counsel to identify unsuitable jurors by the next pre-trial hearing on January 26. Prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy noted that all defendants sought a second pre-trial hearing to reach consensus on these matters. The trial is scheduled to proceed as planned on April 24. The accused include Michael Murphy, Frank Donaghy, Ken Purcell, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson. Additionally, the court noted that a second trial of six people accused of false imprisonment is due for October 2, 2017, with a pre-trial hearing on June 8, 2017. A final trial of five people accused of violent disorder is set for April 9, 2018, with a pre-trial date of December 13, 2017. The matter was adjourned to the next pre-trial date.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judge tells legal teams in TD's upcoming trial that jury selection will be "difficult exercise". Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• January 26 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 24 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 15th, 2014 Other
• October 2, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• June 8, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 9, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
• December 13, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-12-07 Publication

Why: Credit: Collins) A judge has advised legal teams in the upcoming water protestor trial to consider jury selection in assessing "what people might be considered unsuitable potential jurors" because of sympathies they may have for either side. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
• Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
• Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
• 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
• Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
• 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'

Read the original CNI report