Jobstown accused keep bail terms over violent disorder charges

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Jobstown accused kept their existing bail terms at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 28 July 2017 after Judge Melanie Greally decided that proposed restrictions on social media commentary were unnecessary.

Six people were awaiting trial over a 2014 water-charges protest in Jobstown, Tallaght. A number of defendants faced charges of violent disorder and falsely imprisoning two women arising from the incident.

Judge Greally said commentary or campaigns calculated to influence the trial would breach the usual requirement to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

She warned that such conduct would be evidence of criminal conduct in the crime of contempt. Defence lawyers opposed adding a specific social-media condition, with some arguing that the proposal was a misuse of power and would strike at freedom of expression.

The trial was scheduled to begin on 3 October 2017.