Unease over Tánaiste as ‘star witness’

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.

The prospect is understood to be causing some unease at both Garda HQ and Government quarters as the political heat over the garda operation flared yesterday in the Dáil.

High-level sources said it will be a “huge call” for the DPP, as it would involve repeated appearances by the Labour leader in the criminal courts in what would be highly charged prosecutions.