Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

When will the judicial council Bill be brought before the Dáil? Will it deal with what I believe to be a sinister development? The Director of Public Prosecutions has sent a letter to defendants who are facing trial in April in respect of events in Jobstown. She has asked them not to participate in an event at Liberty Hall on Saturday which has been widely advertised and which will be addressed by a range of speakers. She has asked them not to participate in any protests or engage in any social media comment in respect of the trial. This is a further infringement of the right of people to speak to prevent a miscarriage of justice. Prejudicial comments have appeared in the media in respect of this trial for the past two years. Now, the community wants to have its say and give its side of the events that took place. If the defendants do not agree to comply with these outrageous conditions in court tomorrow, the likes of Deputy Paul Murphy and others could be sent to jail immediately. This is a really serious infringement on the right of people to put up a fair defence of themselves. The Government has had to abolish the water charges and designate them to history. This should be let go; these charges should be dropped. Otherwise, the Government will get involved in a very serious miscarriage of justice.

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