Paul Murphy has said he would not change a single thing about the events in Jobstown three years ago.
The Solidarity TD was one of hundreds of people who protested against the arrival of former tánaiste Joan Burton to the area in November 2014.
The demonstration became violent at times and Ms Burton was the subject of sexist abuse. Mr Murphy acknowledged some of the language used was inappropriate but insists it was over-exaggerated by the media and Ms Burton.
The dominant chants, he said, were “shame” and “traitor”. This was not the “angry, violent” mob some portrayed, he insisted.
It was, he said, a spontaneous protest in a working class area revolting against cuts to social welfare, jobseeker’s allowance and lone-parents payments.
As for his role, he told The Irish Times: "I was a peaceful protestor. I was attempting to ensure what happened on the day was as organised and as disciplined as possible given the spontaneous nature. I would do that all again. Rights come lost if they are not exercised.
“People have to defend the right to have protests including the right to have sit-down protest and including the right to have slow marches, including the right to cause annoyance or irritation to people by delaying them. That is all protected in terms of the UN convention on human rights.”
Public inquiry
The decision of a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court to acquit Mr Murphy and five other protestors of false imprisonment charges is a vindication of that right, he said. Mr Murphy said he wanted a public inquiry into why the case was ever brought to trial. The Dublin South West TD said he did not know who had initiated the case but believed there was a "fabricated and co-ordinated" campaign by gardaí.
Mr Murphy said: “I personally think the drive came from within the gardaí knowing it was in line with the views of the political establishment. Whether it was communicated both ways it is not clear.”
However, he strongly believes that at the centre of this campaign is a bias by the Garda against Solidarity and water protestors.
Mr Murphy is also of the view that the media has played a significant role in the demonisation of the Jobstown protesters. He believes RTÉ, The Irish Times and the Irish Independent reflect the outlook of the establishment.
“It does that for a number of reasons. It can be because some journalists move in close circles to those in the political establishment and a common world outlook can develop. It may not be a conscious thing, but it then influences.”
Mr Murphy said he and Solidarity believe they can now use the Jobstown verdict to build a hard-left movement similar to that of Jeremy Corbyn in the United Kingdom.
The growth of the left has been more modest in Ireland, he said, but this week’s events demonstrate it has staying power.
“It shows if they come after us in a very substantial way, we are able to win.”
