Five protesters arrested at a demonstration on March 31st, calling on Minister for Justice Alan Shatter to resign, have appeared before court charged with criminal damage and public order offences.
Terence Barry (42), from Kennedy Park, Thurles, Co Tipperary; 22-year-old John Rooney of Nephin Road, Cabra, Dublin; and Steven Bennett (42), of Pearse Green, Sallynoggin, Dublin, have been charged with vandalising the Department of Justice building in Dublin with paint.
Mr Bennett’s daughter, 20-year-old Saoirse Bennett, who also has an address at Pearse Green, in Sallynoggin, has been charged under the Public Order Act with committing a breach of the peace. The fifth defendant, Francis McDonagh (27), of Nutgrove Crescent, Rathfarnham, is accused of not complying with a Garda direction to leave the vicinity.
The five have not yet entered pleas and were remanded on bail until June 18th.