The prosecutor in the trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton has asked the jury to put their political views to one side.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five others are also accused of falsely imprisoning the former Tánaiste’s adviser during a water charge protest.
It is the prosecution’s case that Joan Burton and her adviser were trapped in two Garda vehicles by water charge protesters in Jobstown in Nov 2014.
The then Tánaiste was attending a graduation ceremony when the spontaneous protest took place.
Prosecuting barrister Sean Gillane told the jury it didn’t matter if they were left wing, right wing, middle of the road or if they didn’t give a fig about politics at all.
He said all that had to be left outside the jury room.
He said Ms. Burton and Karen O’Connell were entitled to be there that day, and accepted the protesters were also entitled to be there and had a right to express their political views peacefully, but he said there were obvious limitations to that right and they couldn’t detain another human being in such a way.
He gave a brief outline of the prosecution’s case against each of the accused, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy whom he claims was involved in restraining both women and that he well knew it.
The jury will now hear from the defence teams for a final time.
