Mayday Court Appearance Jan 5th

dublin | summit mobilisations | news report

Tuesday January 11, 2005 21:52

by Killian D

After nearly a week in cloverhill pison and signing-on over a period of six months, three times a week, i finally appeared in court last Wed 5th January. I pleaded not guilty to two public order offences resulting from Mayday last.

Section 6 and 8 charges to be precise, (6 being abusive and threatening to police) and (8 not moving away from area). I appeared in the old Richmond hospital (CCDC) with one other protester and a few other cases. Because i pleaded not guilty i appeared last in the day. There were no orgainsations present in the court apart from at least 20 Gardai.

My case began well, after the state dismissed the section 6 charge against me because of a lack of evidence. The section 8 remained and thus the state prosecution started the show. It began with a deputy commisioner, two superintendants and two gardai giving evidence against me, consisting of detailed reports of the happenings on Mayday. There was no relevant evidence against me or the section 8 charge, as they each told their personal stories regarding Mayday. My lawyer complained but the judge, in my opinion seemed enthralled by the congregation of uniformed gardai. The only garda (6th State Witness) who actaully said he saw me said i was shouting and was a frontline protester so liable to arrest.

In defence, my lawyer argued
(1) i hadn't been arrested properly
(2) No evidence that i heard gardai telling me to leave the area
(3) video evidence showing me moving away at the time of arrest
(4) I should of been arrested under section 21, the last verbal warning given before the time of my arrest.
All points were dismissed by the judge and i was given the probation act and a 500euro fine to a charity.