Burton questioned on Garda statement

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”.

Under questioning from defence counsel yesterday, Ms Burton denied she left any reference to water protesters out of her statement to gardaí because she did not want to give them a “veneer of legitimacy”.

Ms Burton took the witness stand for the third day yesterday in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other protesters.