Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and Councillor Michael Murphy are “intelligent men” who “should have just walked away” from the Jobstown anti-water charges protest, a garda has told their trial.

A Garda witness has told the trial of South Dublin councillor Michael Murphy for allegedly falsely imprisoning the former Tánaiste Joan Burton that the defendant was more concerned about bad publicity than anyone's safety.

A garda has told a court he was hit in the head with a can of Red Bull while moving former Tanaiste Joan Burton through the crowd at an anti-water charges protest in 2014.

A garda at the trial of seven men charged with falsely imprisoning TD Joan Burton and her aide said she genuinely felt she was going to be “crushed” by a crowd of water protestors in Tallaght two-and-a-half years ago.

TD Paul Murphy told an RTÉ news reporter that former Tánaiste Joan Burton was detained as part of a “peaceful protest”, his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

A garda inspector has told the trial of seven men accused of falsely imprisoning former Tánaiste Joan Burton during a water charges protest in November 2014 that one of the defendants said she could have “sanctuary” in a nearby church.

Former tánaiste Joan Burton has denied she left out any reference to “water protesters” in her statement to gardaí because she wanted to make the protesters out as a “disorganised rabble”.

Former Tánaiste Joan Burton has denied she left out any reference to “water protesters” in her statement to gardaí because she wanted to make the protesters out as a “disorganised rabble”.

Update 6.47pm: Former Tánaiste Joan Burton has denied that she was “relaxed” in the car in which she was allegedly falsely imprisoned during a water charges protest.

Former Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said that it was her “absolute conviction” that “protest in Ireland is a sacred right”, but said it was also her conviction that it should be peaceful protest.

Former Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said she “ran for her life” after the car she was traveling in was surrounded by anti-water charge protesters in Dublin on November 15, 2014.

The start of the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men on charges of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton has been delayed due to an issue arising with one juror.

Some criminal trials manage to attract huge public interest, but few have ever matched the opening day of the trial of the so-called Jobstown Seven.

A jury has been selected for the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men on charges of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton in Tallaght in 2014.

Solidarity TD Paul Murphy is due to stand trial today with six others for the alleged false imprisonment of former Tánaiste Joan Burton.

Seven water protesters accused of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton have told a court they will not speak about the trial at an upcoming protest rally.

A trial date has yet to be set for Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy on charges of falsely imprisoning acting Tánaiste Joan Burton during a water charges protest in Jobstown almost 18 months ago.

A trial date will most likely be set next month for Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy on charges of falsely imprisoning Tánaiste Joan Burton during a water charges protest in Jobstown almost 18 months ago.

Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy has admitted he is worried about the prospect of being charged for the false imprisonment of the Tánaiste last year and said it was possible people could go to jail.

Gardaí have yet to decide on how to proceed with charges against up to 25 water charge protesters, including TD Paul Murphy, three weeks after they got directions from the DPP to prosecute.

The trials against Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy and two party councillors, with Tánaiste Joan Burton as star witness, will not take place before the next election, the Irish Examiner has established.

It should have been a day of celebration to note the achievements of adult students as Tánaiste Joan Burton attended a higher education graduation ceremony in Dublin last November.

Gardaí have been given the green light to bring serious charges against three politicians, including Paul Murphy TD, in connection with the water charges protest involving Tánaiste Joan Burton last November.

Irish Water and billionaire Denis O’Brien are locked in an escalating legal row over who should pay for a series of unexpected water metering costs linked to protesters’ interference with the equipment, which could end up costing the taxpayer €5m.

Gardaí have recommended that charges of false imprisonment and violent disorder be brought against Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy, two party colleagues, and five other people.

The Garda investigation file on the estimated 37 people arrested in relation to the anti-water charge protest involving Tánaiste Joan Burton last November is due to be sent to the State prosecutor next week.

Demonstrators involved in the anti-water charge protest during which Tánaiste Joan Burton was trapped in her car have said they are proud of it and would do it again.

Tánaiste Joan Burton will be the “star witness” if the Director of Public Prosecutions brings charges against people over events at last November’s anti-water charge protest in Tallaght, Dublin.

Serious, and dark, claims are being made over the mounting Jobstown arrests — of political policing, of trumped-up charges and of Garda heavy-handedness.

Gardaí are expected to make up to 40 further arrests following the detention of three politicians and one activist over the suspected false imprisonment of Tánaiste Joan Burton and her adviser at a water charges protest three months ago.

The Anti Austerity Alliance say the arrest of TD Paul Murphy is "another cheap attempt to denigrate the movement against the water charges".

Socialist TD Joe Higgins says the arrest of one of his party colleagues is "political policing".

Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy is among four men who have been arrested in connection with the water protest last November which saw the Tánaiste Joan Burton trapped in her car for more than two hours.