Tara Four' freed
- as judge warns:
- "No grandstanding"
By - John Donohoe.

THE long-awaited sequel to the series featuring bearded and long-haired characters wearing colourful clothing took place last week in Navan. It wasn't so much "Harry Potter" as "Pots and Pans" in Navan Court last Wednesday as members of the Save Tara Campaign reappeared in court following their arrests the previous week.

It did, however, resemble the launch of a new Harry Potter volume, such was the gathering outside the doors and the plethora of newspaper, media and TV reporters taking over the solicitor's benches.

It was a busy day in Judge John Brophy's Wednesday court sitting, as it is coming up to the summer break and lots of public order, theft, criminal damage and traffic offences were listed for hearing. The courtroom was full of defendants, gardai and curious spectators, including independent councillors Andy Brennan, Navan, and Phil Cantwell, Trim, himself no stranger to protesting against diggers on road construction sites.

Outside, protestors carried placards saying "Support the Tara Four", "EU M3 Illegal", "Wrong People Arrested" and "NRA Highway Robbers Shame". Ogra Shinn Fein had also joined in with their banners and the Gardai were out in force. It all made for a curious spectacle outside a lingerie, DVD, leather gear and adult toy store, "Mandy's Delights", in the laneway opposite the court building.

After 12 noon, the Garda van carrying the four defendants, JP Fay, Daniel Maloney, Robert Doherty and Andrew Rawlings, arrived, and they emerged to much cheering from the protestors. Inside the courtroom, disturbed by the noise, Judge Brophy rose from the bench and instructed Gardaí to go down and calm the racket.

The surrealism continued as "celebrity solicitor", Michael Finucane, son of the murdered Northern solicitor, Pat Finucane, appeared to represent the "Tara Four". The previous week, the four had been jailed for refusing to agree to bail conditions stating that they keep away from the M3 construction sites and not interfere with construction personnel on them.

The first defendant was Robert O'Doherty, from Donegal. He wasn't going to sign the bail conditions. Mr. Finucane argued a legal point with Judge Brophy, who was having none of it, and was ready to pack O'Doherty off again. Eventually, having consulted with his solicitor, O'Doherty agreed to sign "under protest".

"You can sign it any way you want", Judge Brophy declared. "As long as you don't breach the bail conditions". The judge warned him he'd be back in court and custody if he breached the conditions. Mr. Finucane was granted free legal aid for his client, who was remanded to 5th. September next.

The normally vocal JP Fay didn't open his mouth when his turn in front of Judge Brophy came, nor did Andrew Rawling, but Daniel Maloney also declared he was signing under protest. "Mr. Finucane will explain to you the terms of the bail", Judge Brophy sighed.

"And, Mr. Finucane, will you explain to your clients that I want no grandstanding outside my court. They can do it anywhere else but not outside the court", the judge added.

Two of the three protestors who were not in custody, and who had signed the bail conditions the week before, were also called, including Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin, Celtic Studies lecturer in NUI Maynooth, who Judge Brophy referred to as Ms. Ní Bhrolcháin.

"She's actually Dr. Ní Bhrolcháin, judge", Michael Finucane remarked.

"I'm not concerned with her title - I know she's a lecturer in Maynooth", the judge replied. "When you come before the court of law, you lose the right to fancy titles".

"I think you'll find she earned her fancy title", Mr. Finucane retorted. Ms. Ní Bhrolcháin didn't need free legal aid, but none of the other defendants could afford to represent themselves.

The protestors all were remanded on bail until September. "That's it - circus is over now", the judge said. "And no noise outside".

Luckily, Judge Brophy had gone to lunch by the time a singer piped up with a Tara-themed song to their air of the "The Black Velvet Band" outside the court; otherwise it could have been a "Black Mariah" for him.

© The Meath Chronicle, 4th. August 2007.

Related Articles:
M3 protesters released from prison after agreeing to bail rules.
Four men are remanded in "Save Tara" protest.
M3 protesters released and warned to steer clear of site.
Protesters arrested after clash at Tara route site.
Tara protesters jailed after rejecting bail terms.
M3 protesters jailed after refusing bail.
Four jailed over M3 Tara route demos.