Outgoing Independent TD Joan Collins has been cleared on a public order charge relating to an anti-water charge demo. She, along with a number of others, was being accused of failing to comply with garda directions.
Last April outgoing TD Joan Collins went to an anti -water charge demo on Parnell Road in Harold’s Cross. Gardai have told the court that some demonstrators at the rally were agitated and abusive and were preventing water meter installers from doing their work.
But Joan Collins barrister says she acted peacefully and the right to protest is of such importance that it shouldn’t be overborne by the misconduct of others. The Judge said there was no evidence before the court that Ms Collins breached the peace and there had been contradictory information from the gardai about her arrest.
The Judge said there were certainly people at the demo calling the gardai scumbags but Joan Collins was not one of them.
He dismissed her case.
