Expectant mother charged with assaulting garda at street protest

A pregnant political activist has been charged with assaulting a garda during Wednesday’s massive Irish Water demonstration in Dublin.

Gardaí arrested six people at the generally peaceful protest in which more than 50,000 people marched from the Garden of Remembrance to Government buildings. Three were released without charge and three were brought before Dublin District Court.

A sit-down protest involving some of the demonstrators took place at the south-side of O’Connell Bridge led to arrests, Judge Michael Walsh heard.

Saoirse Bennett was arrested and had been held overnight at Irishtown Garda station.

The 21-year-old woman, who has an address at Pearse Green, Sallynoggin, Dublin, is charged with assaulting a Garda sergeant, obstructing her in the course of her duty and damaging the jacket of her uniform.

The offences are alleged to have occurred at D’Olier Street. She is also accused of failing to comply with a Garda direction to leave the vicinity; breach of the peace; and damaging a second garda’s uniform.

Gardaí objected to bail. However, Judge Walsh refused to remand the young woman in custody.

Gardaí objected to bail being granted to her father, 43-year-old Stephen Bennett, also of Pearse Green, Sallynoggin, who was charged with failing to leave the vicinity of Burgh Quay, D2, and preventing the passage of a Garda van.

Gda Anthony Brazil said Bennett was in a “break-away” group and was, “arrested, protesting on the street, having been asked to desist in his behaviour”. He said Bennett was cautioned twice and continued sitting on the street blocking traffic.

Additional traffic diversions had to be set up as a result, Gda Brazil said.

In reply to charge, the activist said: “It is the sign of morally and corrupt gardaí pulling charges out of their arse to manufacture breaches of bail.”

Judge Walsh remarked, “peaceful protests have always been part of our history” and granting bail, he said Bennett is not a flight risk. The father and daughter were ordered to appear again on January 8.

Barry O’Sullivan, 36, from Slí an Chanail, Leixlip, Co Kildare, was charged with not obeying a garda direction, and preventing the passage of a vehicle.

Judge Walsh ordered gardaí to hand over any video evidence to the defence.