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Jury finds Jobstown six not guilty of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing that lasted 40 days, a jury of seven men and four women found six men – Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, South Dublin County Councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon, and co‑accused Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy and Michael Banks – not guilty of all charges of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell. The defendants had been accused of restricting the women's liberty without consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, during an anti‑water charges protest on 15 November 2014. The jury deliberated for three hours and ten minutes before returning unanimous verdicts. Judge Melanie Greally, after the verdicts, thanked the jury for their service and exempted them from future duty. The trial had focused on whether the defendants' actions amounted to total restraint, a point the jury found was not proven. The case was described by the defence as a politically motivated attempt to criminalise peaceful protest.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury finds Jobstown six not guilty of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton. Charges or matters: falsely imprisoning; falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght during a anti-water charges protest on November 15, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 15, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 26 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-06-29 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen O'Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght during a anti-water charges protest on November 15, 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Fortunestown Road
- No way
Topics
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