Protesters outside the court today
SEVEN youths aged 14 to 18 have are facing trial on charges connected to the Jobstown water protest last November during which Tanaiste Joan Burton was allegedly trapped in her car for over two hours.
The case raised “complex constitutional issues” in relation to the right to protest, a judge was told today by a lawyer for one of the defendants.
Three of them are aged 16, there is one 15-year-old, one aged 17, an 18-year-old and the youngest who is aged 14 but who was 13 at the time.
The young males, who could all face custodial sentences, had their cases adjourned until later dates and a guilty plea was entered by just one of them to criminal damage and violent disorder charges.
The Dublin Children's Court heard he was already serving a sentence for earlier offences and he had behavioural and drug problems, and was deemed to be at a high risk of re-offending as a result of his issues.
The young males all come from the Tallaght area and had been served with summons in July compelling them to appear in the juvenile court today.
Their prosecution is being overseen by Garda Superintendent Peter Duff of Tallght station and an outline of the State's case was given by Det Gda Paul Smith.
About a hundred supporters came to the courthouse today carrying placards and banners.
The Labour leader and her entourage had left a graduation just after midday on November 15 last at An Cosan in Jobstown, in Tallaght an education facility that serves the local community when demonstration was held which delayed her.
She and her team had been attempting to travel by car to St Thomas's Church, a short distance away, for the rest of the ceremony, said Det Gda Smith.
Gardai allege protesters tried to “get in at” the Labour leader and there were a number of violent incidents during which officers were pushed and missiles thrown.
Six of the youths, including the 14-year-old boy, are charged with violent disorder by using or threatening to use unlawful violence causing others to fear for their safety.
Two of the 16-year-old boys and the 18-year-old youth also have an additional charge for criminal damage to a window of a '05-reg unmarked Garda car. The court heard it was damaged during the alleged disturbances.
Another 16-year-old faces two charges for false imprisonment of Tanaiste Joan and her political advisor Karen O'Connell who were in a ministerial car which was surrounded by protesters. It was alleged he was “one of a number of people who prevented the free movement of An Tanaiste and Karen O'Connell”.
Judge John O'Connor heard that the other 16-year-old boy, who pleaded guilty to criminal damage and violent disorder, initially wanted his case finalised today but the judge noted that the latest welfare reports on him were negative. His solicitor Michelle Finan said the boy regrets his involvement and he had “got caught up in the excitement of what was going and lost the run of himself”.
She later confirmed that the teen agreed to an adjournment until November 26th for updated probation reports to be furnished. The teen is serving a custodial sentence, which is due to expire in January, for theft offences.
Judge O'Connor said the boy, who has been hospitalised on 14 occasions over the past two years with serious injuries, was highly vulnerable but had a supportive family and there had been some positivity in his proceedings.
The DPP also recommended that the remaining five juveniles, who cannot be named, should be tried in the Children's Court and not in the circuit court which has tougher sentencing powers.
However, Judge John O'Connor said that a preliminary hearing would have to take place to establish if the Children's Court would accept jurisdiction for their trials. These teens, who were also accompanied to court by their lawyers and parents, were ordered to appear again in December.
The 18-year-old, Calvin Carlyle, from Gleann na hEorna, Tallaght, is now an adult and could not attend. His mother explained that he was unwell and Judge O'Connor ordered him to appear next week.
State solicitor Rachel Joyce said the DPP has directed that unlike the juveniles, he should be tried in the circuit court.
Several adults, including Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy are due to appear in court next week in connection with the incident.