Defence for Joan Burton false imprisonment accused say charge is against human rights

The decision to charge a teenager with false imprisonment of then Tanaiste Joan Burton during the Jobstown protest was not in accordance with Irish or European human rights laws, the boy's lawyers have argued writes Tom Tuite.

Defence for Joan Burton false imprisonment accused say charge is against human rights

The decision to charge a teenager with false imprisonment of then Tanaiste Joan Burton during the Jobstown protest was not in accordance with Irish or European human rights laws, the boy's lawyers have argued writes Tom Tuite.

The 17-year-old boy denies falsely imprisoning the former Labour leader and her advisor Karen O'Connell who were allegedly trapped in two garda cars for three hours during the demonstration at the Fortunestown Road in Jobstown in Tallaght, on Nov. 15, 2014.

He was aged 15 at the time.

The Dublin west TD had been at a gradution ceremony at An Cosan education centre when a water protest took place outside.

She told the court earlier that she was frightened and did not think she had the alternative of being able to get out of Garda cars surrounded by people shouting abuse and banging on windows.

The State has closed its case and this morning the boy's legal team asked Judge John King to dismiss the charges.

It is day four of the boy's trial at the Dublin Children's Court.

The boy's barrister Giollaoisa O Lideadha SC told Judge King that the the case is “unprecedented”.

Counsel said: “If the charge of false imprisonment is not dismissed, that would amount to a failure to vindicate the constitutional rights of the accused, failure to uphold the right to fair trial, failure to uphold the obligation on the authorities not to abuse their powers and not to act arbitrarily or in a manner inconsistent with basic fairness”.

Counsel has also submitted that the prosecution has failed to prove their case beyond the necessary proof of reasonable doubt.

He said there was evidence from a statement of a Garda superintendent, who was not called to give evidence, that there was an agreement between gardai and protesters that they could slow march ahead of a car carrying Ms Burton.

He said that there appears to have been an agreement with gardai and the teenager “was never told he was committing an offence or committing a public order offence or an offence of an entirely different magnitude, false imprisonment.

My submission is that the decision to charge in relation to this matter in the first place was not in accordance with constitutional rights and the European convention on human rights”.

The prosecution case is that the former Tanaiste and her advisor were detained by the actions of the teenage defendant in conjunction with the actions of others.

The case continues.

Earlier, Judge John King was shown video footage of the protest.

The clips were obtained from YouTube, RTE and a garda 4X4 which at one point had been blocked while carrying the former Minister for Social Protection and her advisor Ms O'Connell.

Some people were seen chanting slogans while others were hurling abuse at the former Tanaiste and jostling with gardai. Ms Burton was hit with a water balloon as she walked from An Cosan adult education centre across the road to St Thomas's Church for the concluding part of a gradution ceremony.

She has said there was an "air of extreme hostility" at the protest and she and her former advisor said it was not safe to get out of garda cars.

Ms O'Connell said she was hit on the back as gardai bundled them into a car and that she was upset and began hyper-ventilating.

The number of protesters grew and gardaí formed cordons around the then Tanaiste to protect her.

Det Inspector Derek Maguire described the actions of some of the protesters as being like a “rugby maul”. He has rejected the defence suggestions that there was an agreement with protesters in relation to a "slow march".

Plastic bottles and eggs were thrown at gardaí and the windscreen of a Garda 4X4 was broken while Ms Burton was in it, the court has heard.

When questioned months after the protest the teenager denied being an organiser of the demonstration and said he was sorry for the upset he caused Ms Burton.

more courts articles

Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman
Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt

More in this section

Investigation launched after discovery of woman's body in canal in Co Monaghan Investigation launched after discovery of woman's body in canal in Co Monaghan
Government examining payments to carers after referendum defeat Government examining payments to carers after referendum defeat
Drug death in Cork Prison could be linked to nitazene opiate Drug death in Cork Prison could be linked to nitazene opiate
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited