A Judge has ruled that those facing charges arising from a water protest in Jobstown in Dublin will be tried in separate groups.

Paul Murphy is among 16 people facing charges of false imprisonment arising from a demonstration in 2014.

The Anti-Austerity Alliance TD was in court this morning for the ruling.

The case dates back to events in November 2014, the then Tanaiste Joan Burton and her advisor were allegedly trapped in their car for a number of hours during an anti-water charge demonstration in Jobstown in Dublin.

Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy and two Dublin councillors are among 16 people facing charges of false imprisonment.  A small number of others are charged with public order offences. 

The Prosecution had made a case to try the defendants in four separate manageable blocks.  But the Defence barristers had argued it would be inefficient to hold separate trials with the same witnesses and the same exhibits.

Some of the defendant’s barristers also argued that the prosecution would be polished by the time it got to the final trial.
But Today Judge Melanie Greally ruled that justice would not be best served by trying the 18 or 19 people together in one group.

She said it would place unrealistic demands on a judge and jury and while jurors are robust they are not superhuman. She also noted that the Criminal Courts of Justice couldn’t accommodate a large group like it along with all their barristers

Separate trials will now go ahead which aren’t due to get underway until next year.
A decision will now be made on how to separate the groups and the matter has been adjourned until next month.