Jobstown water protesters to be tried in separate groups, judge rules

A judge has ruled that those facing charges arising from a water protest in Jobstown in Dublin will be tried in separate groups.

TD Paul Murphy is among 16 people facing various charges including false imprisonment, violent disorder and criminal damage after the then-Tánaiste Joan Burton was allegedly trapped in her car for a number of hours in November 2014.

The defendants wanted to go on trial as one group.

However, Judge Melanie Greally said that this would place unrealistic demands on the judge and jury, and that separate trials would be more manageable.