TD ‘worried’ at prospect of charges

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.

It emerged last night that Mr Murphy is one of 27 people facing charges in connection with the incident in Jobstown 10 months ago in which Labour leader Joan Burton’s car was blocked for more than two hours by anti-water charge protesters.

There are strong indications that the Dublin south West TD will face charges of falsely imprisoning the Tánaiste and her special adviser, Karen O’Connell, at Fortunestown Road in Jobstown on November 15 last.

Anti-Austerity Alliance councillors Kieran Mahon and Mick Murphy are likely to face the same charges, with 13 people in all expected to be charged with false imprisonment. Another 14 people are likely to be charged with violent disorder or criminal damage.

Speaking yesterday on the prospect of facing court, Mr Murphy said “it worries me” but added that he and others would be defending themselves against the charges.

“People could go to prison for this,” he said, “for participating in a protest against the deputy prime minister.”

Later, he said: “For the second time in less than a month, we have a leak, presumably from the gardaí, about charges that have not yet been brought forward.”