Seven Wicklow people charged over IPAS centre incident to have trial moved to Louth
The Wicklow PeopleSeven defendants charged with violent disorder arising from an incident at an IPAS centre in Newtownmountkennedy, have had their trial moved to Drogheda, Co Louth, despite all having addresses in Wicklow.
The venue transfer was requested by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) due to Wicklow not having a court big enough for a trial of this size, but legal teams for the defendants argued that the trial should instead be heard at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin.
A previous hearing was told that gardaí had responded to what was described as a large-scale public order incident at a site in Newtownmountkennedy that had been proposed for use as accommodation for international protection applicants.
At around 7pm on April 25, 2024, some protesters allegedly became involved in criminal activity, including setting fires and causing damage, and that some were said to have been intent on injuring gardaí at the scene.
A Garda inspector told Bray District Court at an earlier sitting that the violence encountered on the night was relentless and prolonged, and that several Garda vehicles were damaged during the disturbance.
It was said that windscreens were smashed, tyres were slashed, and that the incident amounted to alleged breaches of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act.
At the latest hearing, the court heard that the trials will take at least six weeks, with extensive primary source evidence to be reviewed, including CCTV and mobile phone footage.
One of the defendants’ barristers, Gregory Murphy BL, noted that documentary juniors will also be needed. These are junior counsel tasked with organising, reviewing and managing the large volume of documents, CCTV material, phone records and other evidence required in a multi-accused trial.
The court was also told that there will be 21 barristers and seven solicitors acting on behalf of the defendants, and counsel argued that Dublin has the only courthouse with the capacity to accommodate such a large number of legal professionals.
Mr Murphy, who represents David Odlum (67) of St Patrick’s Road, Newtownmountkennedy, told the court that his client is an elderly, retired man who does not own a car and relies solely on public transport.
The court was informed that it would take Mr Odlum six hours a day to travel from Newtownmountkennedy to Drogheda, at a cost of over €1,000 to the taxpayer as he is in receipt of legal aid. Mr Murphy added: "That is six hours only if public transport works the way it is supposed to, and it is Ireland after all.”
Mr Murphy, also representing Paul Coster (50) of Árd na Gréine, Bray, told the court that Mr Coster has mental health issues, including panic attacks and takes “heavy duty” antidepressants, and that Drogheda would be a worst-case scenario for him.
Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly BL, told the court that it takes one hour and six minutes to drive from Newtownmountkennedy to Drogheda, according to the AA route planner.
Judge Patrick Quinn ruled that the seven defendants, Michael Synnot, Shane Synnot, Sharon McCann, Joseph McDonald, Ben McNulty and David Odlum, all with addresses in Newtownmountkennedy, and Paul Coster, who lives in Bray, will appear at Drogheda Courthouse on January 13, 2026, for mention.