Courts / Dublin / Report

Minister tells Jobstown trial she felt Joan Burton was in "great danger"

Summary

The trial of eight men accused of falsely imprisoning TD Joan Burton and her advisor Karen O'Connell on November 15, 2014, continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The defendants, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, Dublin Councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon, and Frank Donaghy, Ken Purcell, Michael Banks, and Scott Masterson, have all pleaded not guilty to restricting the women's liberty without consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght. Katherine Zappone TD, who was an independent Senator at the time, testified that she felt Ms Burton was in "great danger" during the water charges protest. She described protesters closing in on the Tanaiste and reported the incident to gardaí after seeing the car surrounded and moved. During cross-examination, Ms Zappone acknowledged her opposition to water charges but maintained that the detention was menacing and intimidating. The court heard she did not agree with the violent nature of the protest, despite previous public statements. The trial is ongoing before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded at this stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Minister tells Jobstown trial she felt Joan Burton was in "great danger". Charges or matters: falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her special advisor Karen O'Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014; falsely imprisoning. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• November 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 15, 2014 Incident
• 2017-05-09 Publication

Why: I put my hands up a few times because I felt that people were closing in on us and it was a matter of concern," she told Mr Gillane. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report