Courts / Dublin / Report
Barrister tells Joan Burton she should be "big enough and bold enough" to take name-calling
Summary
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other water protesters, former Tanaiste Joan Burton appeared as a witness. She denied that she omitted the term "water protesters" from her statement to gardaí to avoid giving them legitimacy, insisting she was simply describing what happened. Burton said she was not making political statements and that she was asked to recount the events. She described being trapped in a car for about three hours after a graduation ceremony, feeling the protest was "very unusual" and "scary and menacing." She noted that most protesters behaved peacefully, but some engaged in shouting, banging the car and pushing. Burton also said she believes people have a right to protest peacefully, though she disagrees with the behaviour of many protesters in that particular campaign. The trial will continue with her next appearance on Thursday.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Barrister tells Joan Burton she should be "big enough and bold enough" to take name-calling. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- November 15, 2014 Other
- October 2014 Other
- 2017-05-02 Publication
Why: Credit: Collins) Former Tanaiste Joan Burton has denied she left out any reference to "water protesters" in her statement to gardaí because she wanted to make the protesters out as a "disorganised rabble". CNI source report
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Fortunestown Road
- Kingswood Heights
- Tallaght
- Whitechurch
- Whitechurch Way
- Dublin
- Carrigmore Drive
Topics
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