Joan Burton entering the court. RollingNews.ie photo.
By Evan Short
Former Tanaiste and Labour Party leader Joan Burton has been told that she should be “big enough and bold enough” to take distasteful name-calling, a trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.
It came as M.s Burton took the witness stand on Tuesday for the third day in the trial of seven men charged with offences that took place during a water protest on November 15, 2014.
On trial are Paul Murphy (34), who is a Solidarity TD, and south Dublin councilors Kieran Mahon (39) and Michael Murphy (53), along with Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise, Tallaght; Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown Green; Michael Banks (46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght, and Scott Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght in West Dublin.
All have denied charges of falsely imprisoning Ms. Burton and her adviser Karen O’Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght.
Last week, the trial heard from Ms. Burton who said the pair were trapped in cars for about three hours after they had left a graduation ceremony.
Defense barrister Michael O’Higgins, representing Ken Purcell, said he did not defend the actions of anyone who threw a water balloon or egg at Ms. Burton, or those who obstructed her path; however, he put it to Burton that as a leader of the country, being called distasteful names should be “water off a duck’s back.”
“Not necessarily, if it’s accompanied by people raining blows on a car,” Ms. Burton replied.
“This particular episode was entirely different to other experiences I had,” she said.
“The venom and the hatred that was part of this particular event was unusual.”
Mr. O’Higgins said that while name-calling may be ugly, it was also a person’s right to express that view as part of freedom of expression.
“You should be big enough and bold enough to take it on board,” he said.
“I’m not sure why you’re asking me to be big enough and bold enough,” Ms. Burton replied.
Later, Burton described the situation she had faced ion that day in 2014 as “scary and menacing.”
“Particularly when I wasn’t able to leave the car and there was the constant worry if people got the car door open what would happen to us and where would we run to,” she said.
The trial continues.
