M3 protesters released from
prison
- after agreeing to bail rules
By - Author.
Four men involved in a Save Tara protest two weeks ago
have been released on bail after accepting bail
conditions that they stay away from the M3 construction
sites and do not interfere with any of the employees.
John Fay (56), Blackfriar, Trim, Daniel Maloney (29),
Riverstown, Kilmessan, Robert Doherty (52), Main Street,
West End, Bundoran, Co. Donegal, and Andrew Rawlings
(32), Dunbeacon, Bantry, Co. Cork, who are charged with
public order offences, were remanded in custody a week
earlier after they refused to accept the bail conditions
set out by Judge John Brophy at Navan Court on 18th.
July.
However, after spending a week in custody, the four men
accepted the bail conditions that they do not interfere
with or enter any construction site relative to the M3
and that they do not interfere with any person engaged
with work on the M3 motorway.
All four were charged with failing to comply with the
directions of a garda and interrupting the free passage
of a vehicle on 18th. July.
The charges against Fay, Doherty and Rawlings related to
Tara and Lismullin, while the charges against Maloney
related to Blundelstown. Fay, Doherty and Rawlings were
also charged with offensive conduct.
Some of the men commented they were signing the bail bond
"under protest" and Judge Brophy told them they could
sign it under anything they liked. But, if they breached
the bail conditions, they would be re-arrested and sent
to prison.
They were remanded on bail to appear on 5th. September
next but it is likely that a special court date will be
set to deal with the cases.
Three other protesters, Muireann Ní
Bhrolcháin (40), 58 St. Laurence's Avenue,
Maynooth, Carmel Ní Dhuibheanaigh (30), 85 Feile
Bhoriomhe, Swords, Co. Dublin and Kathleen Kavanagh (48),
20 Christchurch Place, Dublin 8, who accepted the bail
conditions on 18th. July, also had their cases adjourned
to 5th. September.
Muireann Ní Bhrolcháin and Carmel Ní
Dhuibheanaigh were charged with preventing the passage of
a vehicle in a public place, failing to comply with the
directions of the garda and offensive conduct at
Lismullin, Kathleen Kavanagh is charged with a breach of
the peace at Lismullin.
Meanwhile, another protester was released on cash bail at
Trim Court last Friday, having spent a night in
custody.
Hugh McLoughlin (50), 61 Watson Avenue, Killiney, Dublin,
had been remanded in custody overnight from Kells Court
the previous day, when he refused to agree to bail
conditions. At Friday's Court, he was remanded on cash
bail to 5th. September.
He is charged with entering the M3 construction site on
26th. July to prevent others from making reasonable use
of the land.
At Thursday's court, Garda John Bohan, Navan, said he had
arrested McLoughlin that morning and the defendant said:
"It doesn't make sense to me" when charged. The garda
asked for restrictive bail conditions to be imposed.
The defendant told Judge Brophy that he had a solicitor
but hadn't been given a chance to speak to him. He said
that he would not sign the bail conditions as "that work
was illegal".
"You can grandstand somewhere else", the judge told him
and remanded him in custody to Trim Court the following
day, where he said he could apply for bail.
At Trim Court, his solicitor, Mr. Michael Finucane,
applied for bail without conditions and Judge Brophy said
he would allow cash bail.
© The Meath Chronicle, 4th. August 2007.
Related Articles:
Tara Four' freed as judge warns: "No
grandstanding".
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.
