Dublin deputy mayor cleared of charges over workers’ protest

Dublin’s deputy lord mayor Cieran Perry has been cleared of public order charges arising out of his arrest during a protest in support of striking workers.

The independent councillor, who could have faced jail, claims his trial was a result of “political policing”.

After his acquittal Thursday, he criticised the decision to prosecute him as a “complete waste of Garda and court resources”.

Cllr Perry, a Trinity College computer technician and a Unite shop steward, had been arrested during an industrial relations protest against wage cuts imposed on workers at Dublin waste firm Greyhound, and the company’s use of temporary staff while employees were on strike.

The councillor, who represents the Cabra Finglas ward, faced charges for failing to comply with a garda’s direction to leave the vicinity and interrupting the passage of vehicles, at Killala Road, in Cabra, in Dublin, on September 2nd, 2014.

He faced trial before Dublin District Court and defended himself in the hearing during which two witnesses disputed prosecution claims that gardaí gave a caution to the protesters. The court heard he was arrested within minutes and was brought to Finglas garda station.

Dismissing the case, Judge Miriam Walsh said the prosecution failed to meet the burden of proof.

Cllr Perry said: “I was shocked to be arrested and handcuffed for participating in a peaceful local protest in support of the locked out Greyhound workers.”