A student in court in connection with the May Day anti-globalisation protest in Dublin was left without a criminal record after agreeing to pay €250 to charity.
David Irwin (21), a student from Ballymackegh, Killeagh, Cork, pleaded guilty to breach of the peace and failing to obey a garda direction to leave the Navan Road.
Garda Anthony O'Connor, Newtownmountkennedy Station, told Dublin District Court that Irwin was among a group of protesters who confronted gardaí at the Ashtown Gate late in the evening of May 1st last.
They were given a general direction by a Garda superintendent to leave the area under Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. The group was abusive and refused to leave. Irwin was arrested and was co-operative in Garda custody.
His solicitor said he had come up for the day, more to observe than participate. "Friends of his were involved, and he followed them and just got caught up."
The court heard he was a student who had taken a year out, but was hoping to go on to become a teacher. His solicitor asked that because of this he be left without a conviction.
Judge Geoffrey Browne told him it was "not the garda's fault that the world is messed up". He imposed Section 1.1 of the Probation of Offenders Act, leaving him with a clean record, on condition that he pay €250 to the Fr Peter McVerry charity for homeless boys.
Judge Browne put back for hearing or for mention the cases of 10 others charged with public order offences on the same date.
Five will be in a position to enter pleas in September or October once their lawyers have examined evidence, including any video footage, which the prosecution has.
Mr Anthony Hogan (24) Barton Drive, Rathfarnham; Mr Robert McKevitt (26), Collinstown Grove, Clondalkin; Mr Barry O'Donavan (31), High Street, Kilkenny and Mr Tony Power (29), Riverwood Gardens, Castleknock, were all remanded to September 15th. Mr Harry Johnstone (20), Rathgar Road, Dublin, was remanded to October 6th.
Mr Lee Cummins (21), Appian Way, Ranelagh; Mr Killian Dowling (19), Georgian Village, Castleknock, and Mr Sean McKenna (25), Grange Road, Baldoyle, had dates for hearing set on January 5th, while Mr Stephen McCann (21), Waltham Terrace, Blackrock, will have his case heard on January 10th.
Mr James O'Hare (41), Hollybrook Road, Drumcondra, was remanded for a hearing on December 8th.