Protestors to stand trial over May Day clashes
Trial dates were set today for three May Day protesters who have indicated they will plead not guilty to public order offences.
Twelve men appeared at Dublin’s Cloverhill District Court after being arrested during the violent clashes with police which marred EU expansion celebrations in the city.
All were remanded on continuing bail.
Conor Lynch, 22, from Kilkenny, David McNamara, 24, from Portmarnock, and Fergus Robson, 19, from Dublin, are all charged with failing to comply with Garda directions.
All will plead not guilty when tried on September 22.
Judge Gerard Furlong made an order granting permission for video evidence to be used in their defence.
Six men, including 20-year-old Englishman Harry Johnstone, also charged with stealing a Garda hat, were remanded until June 16.
An application was granted to bring forward 21-year-old American Tom Barkley’s appearance to May 26 to allow him to return to the US.
Two others, including 19-year-old Englishman Dan Glass, were remanded until July 7 and September 29 respectively.
All 12 appeared at a special court sitting late on May 1. They were released on bail last week after Justice Nicolas Kearns in the High Court overturned a District Court ruling detaining them in custody.
None have any previous convictions.
Violence broke out after a crowd of several thousand demonstrators gathered near the Ashtown Gate of the park where EU leaders were enjoying a banquet at the end of a day of celebrations to mark EU enlargement.
Gardaí made 29 arrests and used water cannons to disperse the crowd.
A live shotgun cartridge was later found lying on the Navan Road along with rocks, bottles and other missiles, which had been thrown at gardaí.
