Revealed: Finian McGrath says he will pay water charges

 

Minister for Disabilities Finian McGrath is to pay his water charges after days of controversy, independent.ie understands.

Finian McGrath arriving for the Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings yesterday (Picture: Tom Burke)

Mr McGrath has faced calls from his ministerial colleagues to pay the bill given his elevation to Cabinet.

He sought advice over the issue from Attorney General Máire Whelan.

However, it’s understood Mr McGrath has now told colleagues of his intention to pay his water charges.

Sources say he was concerned the issue was becoming a distraction from his brief.

Mr McGrath admitted this week that hasn't paid his charges because he is opposed to Irish Water and the way charges were implemented

Labour deputy leader Alan Kelly had criticised the Dublin North TD after he revealed he did not pay the charge.

In a statement this evening, Mr McGrath said the “manner in which Irish Water was set up and its approach remains personally unacceptable”. Mr McGrath said he was “deeply sceptical about the motives and the ability of the service to deliver”.

However, he said that a failure to pay the water charges “ will become a significant distraction to other important work and I’m determined that this will not be allowed to happen. 

“To that end, I will now regularise my situation with Irish Water and pay my charges."

 

The full statement of the Minister of State for Disability Finian McGrath

"The manner in which Irish Water was set up and its approach remains personally unacceptable to me. 

I’m still deeply sceptical about the motives and the ability of the service to deliver.  There are also affordability issues too and I certainly felt there was a lack of insight demonstrated by the previous government as regards people’s everyday financial struggles.

There are many examples of this including leaving families to their own devices as regards replacing lead pipes in their homes and not taking into account the significant additional water requirements of many families who have members with a special need requirement.    

However I recognise that recent government negotiations which I was involved in have brought forward a mechanism to review the provision of water and its infrastructure.

 It will be crucial for the review to take into account the positions of people who have paid their charges as they should not be disadvantaged.  The issue will be argued on the floor of Dáil Eireann at which point a democratic decision will be arrived at.

I have fought for many issues over the course of my career but none more so than the issues facing our country today including homelessness, health and care of the elderly, cystic fibrosis, education, small businesses and of course rights and services for people with disabilities as well as many other issues. 

I now find myself in a position where I have the opportunity to oversee real development and policies in our areas of need.  I have a responsibility to try my best to deliver for the people who are relying on me in these areas.  I know that priorities must be set and I do not believe that my not paying the water charge at this stage will greatly alter the situation for Irish Water. 

The debate has moved on and it will be a matter for Dáil Eireann in due course.  It is clear to me that not paying the charge will become a significant distraction to other important work and I’m determined that this will not be allowed to happen.  To that end I will now regularise my situation with Irish Water and pay my charges."

Original article: www.independent.ie 

Two elderly water charge protesters remanded in custody

TWO ELDERLY MEN have been remanded in custody following a water charges protest in Kilcoole.  Sean Doyle and Eamonn McGrath took part in a protest in Kilcoole on Monday.

On Tuesday, there were tense scenes in Bray as the pair were escorted from Bray courthouse, with protesters clashing with gardaí on the main road.

The two men, both in their 70s, were in front of Judge David Kennedy in Bray this morning on trespassing charges.

Doyle and McGrath, who were both on crutches in court, were remanded in custody and are to appear before Cloverhill District Court on 24 May.

On behalf of her clients, their solicitor requested the two men’s medications be supplied to them while in custody. The solicitor told the court there had been an issue this week with Doyle accessing his medication.

It was also requested that McGrath have access to painkillers for his hip. Judge Kennedy said the two men should have access to medications deemed necessary to them.

Large crowds gathered outside Bray courthouse this morning, and access to the court room was restricted. There was a heavy garda presence, with at least 18 members of the gardaí on the premises.

Family members were permitted to see the two men briefly before their court appearance. Sinn Féin TD John Brady was present in court today and he is due to visit the two men in the coming days.

“It is disgraceful that Sean Doyle and Eamon McGrath have been remanded in custody for protesting against water charges,” said Brady.

A cross-party group of TDs have expressed concern over the imprisonment of the two men. Video footage of the protest in Kilcoole and the scenes in Bray on Tuesday were widely circulated on social media.

A statement signed by Clare Daly TD, Cieran Perry, Deputy Lord Mayor, Mick Wallace TD, Eoin O’Broin TD, David Cullinane TD, Gino Kenny TD, Jonathan O’Brien TD, Thomas Pringle TD, Joan Collins TD, Richard Boyd Barrett TD, and Catherine Connolly TD, condemns the imprisonment of Doyle and McGrath.

A delegation of politicians will attempt to visit the two men in the coming days.

Original article: thejournal.ie

Youtube video of incident where Sean Doyle and Eamonn McGrath were arrested.  As far as is known the person who is seen backing a pickup into a protester, damaging a woman's phone and pushing her violently to the ground and then attacking Sean Doyle was not arrested or charged.

Jobstown accused to be tried in separate groups

A judge has ruled that Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy and 18 other people should have separate trials on charges of false imprisonment of former tánaiste Joan Burton and other offences following a water charges protest in Jobstown in Tallaght in Dublin two years ago.

AAA-PBP TD Paul Murphy is among those facing charges

Mr Murphy, 32, with an address of The Copse, Woodpark, Ballinteer, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court along with 18 others, some facing charges of false imprisonment and violent disorder.

Among the group of accused are 38-year-old Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon, of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght, and Anti-Austerity Alliance Councillor Michael Murphy, 50, of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden.

Judge Melanie Greally said that to try all the accused together would place unrealistic demands on jurors, who may be robust but were "not superhuman".

She made her ruling following legal argument from both the State and the defence earlier this month.

Tony McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting, told the court at that hearing that there were 45 counts on the indictment including false imprisonment, violent disorder and criminal damage.

He said it was the prosecution's position that there was "a case to have the case tried in manageable blocks" of four separate trials.

The defence argued that Judge Greally did not have jurisdiction to deal with an application for severance in the first instance as it should be dealt with the judge who will ultimately be hearing the trial.

Colman Fitzgerald SC, defending Antoinette Kane, 23, of Cloonmore Park, Jobstown, Tallaght, submitted that there was no logic to the State's application.

He said they were in charge of drafting the indictment, the document outlining the offences each accused is charged with, and it was the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision to put all 19 defendants on it in the first instance.

Judge Greally today said she had interpreted the relevant legislation and concluded that she did have jurisdiction to sever the indictment.

However, she said, as she has since been nominated the trial judge this argument was no longer relevant.

She had considered the law in relation to the court's power to change an indictment.

She said she was satisfied that, on her interpretation of the legislation, the court did have the authority to alter it.

"In my view the interest of justice would not be best served by trying them all together. It would place wholly unrealistic demands on both the judge and jury," Judge Greally said,

She accepted previous argument from the defence that juries have proven to be robust but she added they are "not superhuman".

Judge Greally said also in practical terms the Criminal Courts of Justice complex would not be able to accommodate a trial of 19 accused people, a potentially three-person defence team for each and the State's barristers and solicitors.

She ruled that the accused should be separated into more manageable groups but said those groups should "not be considered in a vacuum" rather instead divided in such a way that was relevant to the proposed evidence in relation to each accused.

Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, said the defence teams have already received letters from the DPP outlining the proposed groupings and suggested that if they see a potential prejudice with what is proposed, a date should be set for legal argument to deal with it.

Judge Greally adjourned the case to 22 July to allow for any argument and to set trial dates. She remanded each accused on bail until that date.

Ms Burton and her entourage had left a graduation event at An Cosán Education Centre at Jobstown, Tallaght when a demonstration was held which delayed her for about two hours on 15 November 2014.

She and her team had been attempting to travel by car to St Thomas' Church for the rest of the ceremony when it is alleged violence broke out.

The three public representatives are charged with false imprisonment of Ms Burton and of Karen O'Connell at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown.

Thirteen others are charged with false imprisonment while nine people are charged with violent disorder.

Original article: RTE News May 11, 2016

Paul Murphy comments after the court case in the  Special Criminal Court Dublin, May 11, 2016

Jobstown protesters before their court casein the Special Criminal Court, Dublin, May 11, 2016 

‪#‎JobstownNotGuilty‬ was up in court again today. The judge made a ruling today in various aspects of our case. Without going into all the legal details, the essential things are this:

1. The case will be 'severed' - i.e. the group of 19 is going to be broken up into smaller groups for separate trials.
2. The judge who has been dealing with us so far will be the trial judge.
3. We are back up on Wednesday 22 June, where there may be an argument about what groups we are broken into.

Many thanks to all those who turned up to support us - it means a lot! See you on 22 June.