Karen O’Connell gives evidence in false imprisonment trial

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

Karen O’Connell gave evidence in a false imprisonment trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 5 May 2017.

Paul Murphy, Michael Murphy, Kieran Mahon, Frank Donaghy, Ken Purcell, Michael Banks and Scott Masterson pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning O’Connell and Joan Burton by restricting their personal liberty without consent. The alleged incident took place at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght, on 15 November 2014.

The jury was shown a video in which O’Connell used the phrase “the fu**ing dregs” while speaking to Burton. O’Connell said she was embarrassed by her language, was not proud of it and was very upset at the time.

Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC put it to her that she had used the word because she was contemptuous of the protesters. O’Connell said she had meant the end of something, such as a protest, and insisted she had not intended to insult the crowd.

The trial was continuing before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.