Katherine Zappone gives evidence in false imprisonment trial

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

Katherine Zappone gave evidence in the false imprisonment trial of seven men at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 9 May 2017.

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

Zappone said she believed Burton and her adviser were in great danger during a water charges protest. She told the court that people surrounded Burton’s car, banged on it and moved it back and forth. She said she called 999 because she did not see too many gardaí.

Under cross-examination, Paul Murphy’s barrister Sean Guerin referred to a pre-election television debate in which Zappone had said she did not condemn what was happening in Jobstown “at all”. After the court viewed the footage, Guerin asked whether her position had changed. Zappone said what happened to Burton was menacing, deeply concerning and intimidating, and that she had issued a statement expressing her concern for Burton and O’Connell.

The trial continued before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.