Trial dates have been set for Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy and 17 others charged in connection with a protest in Jobstown in 2014.
Deputy Murphy and six others accused of falsely imprisoning the then Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser will stand trial next April.
Our Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney reports:
On Nov 15th 2014, Joan Burton attended a graduation ceremony at an education centre at Jobstown in Tallaght.
Afterwards, she was accompanied by her adviser Karen O'Â’Connell to a nearby church where the rest of the event was taking place.
Paul Murphy and 15 others are accused of falsely imprisoning the women by trapping them in various Garda vehicles and blocking their passage.
The Anti-Austerity Alliance TD was in court today when Judge Melanie Greally decided it would be best to hold three separate trials.
He’'ll stand trial on April 24th next with six of his co-accused, including AAA Councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon – who are both from Dublin.
A number of others, who are also facing various public order offences, will stand trial in October 2017 and a final trial has been scheduled for Apr 2018.
A pre-trial hearing for the first of the three trials will take place in December.
