The charges have been dropped against one of seven men on trial for the alleged false imprisonment of former Tánaiste Joan Burton.
Ken Purcell of Kiltalown Green in Tallaght in Dublin was also accused of falsely imprisoning her adviser during a protest in Dublin.
BREAKING Charges dropped against one of seven men on trial for alleged false imprisonment of Joan Burton and her adviser #JOBSTOWN
— Frank Greaney (@FrankGreaney) June 12, 2017
There was applause in court when Judge Melanie Greally told Ken Purcell he was to be discharged from the indictment and is free to go.
He shook hands with the six men left in the dock and embraced his wife before leaving the court room.
His lawyers followed suit a few minutes later.
The DPPÂ’s decision not to pursue the charges against him arose following some legal argument in the absence of the jury.
The six others, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and two Solidarity Councillors, are still on trial.
TheyÂ’re accused of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton during a water charge protest in Jobstown when she was Tánaiste in November 2014.
They’re also facing the same charge in relation to her adviser Karen O’Connell – both of whom gave evidence in the early stages of the trial.
The prosecution has now called all its evidence and the trial will enter its closing stages when it resumes later this week.
Our Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney reports:
