Four appear in court over protest at Co Wicklow site

Four people have appeared in court in connection with the serious public disorder in Newtownmountkennedy last night.

Michael Synott and Shane Synott, both with an address at Season Park, Newtownmountkennedy; Ben McNulty with an address at Rossmore Avenue, Newtownmountkennedy, and Sharon McCann with an address at Mountainview Drive, Wicklow were brought before Bray District Court.

The four defendants are aged between 19 and 56 are all charged with public order offences.

Superintendent Niall Kennedy gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said all four defendants made no reply.

He also described to the court that there was a large-scale public order incident at River Lodge Trudder House last night and prior to this, gardaí were required to be present at the site to ensure workers could go about their business.

He told the court that at around 7pm protestors became actively involved in criminal activity.

He said the level of violence was relentless and extremely dangerous and amounted to breaches of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act.

He said the four accused were arrested during a policing operation and that further charges may arise.

There was no objection to bail but a number of conditions were imposed by Judge Nicola Andrews.

They were each given a curfew of 8pm to 8am at their residence, to stay away from River Lodge Trudder House and its environs and not to engage in protest activity in the Newtownmountkennedy area.

The four were released on bail on their own bond of €1,000 and are due back in court again on 9 May.
In total six people were arrested last night.

Gardaí said that a fifth person has been charged with alleged offences and he was released to appear before the District Court at a later date.

A male juvenile who was also arrested has been released without charge and he has been referred to the Youth Division Project.