Four men have appeared in court charged with offences in connection with protests at the Ballyogan refugee centre in south Dublin.
The four are 53-year-old father of four Rodger Long from Clay Farm Drive, Kilgobbin, Dublin 18, 21-year-old Jordan O’Donoghue of Ballyogan Avenue, Carrickmines in Dublin 18, Conor Killian, who is 25 and from Little Brighton Road, Foxrock in south Co Dublin and 44-year-old Ian Cahill of Ballyogan Vale, Ballyogan Road, Dublin 18.
Jordan O’Donoghue said he had never been in court before and when Ian Cahill was asked did he require a solicitor he replied “no I’m ok”.
They are accused that on 22 May at Ballyogan Road, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, they wilfully prevented or interrupted the free passage of a person or vehicle. On conviction, the charge can result in a €400 fine.
The four are also accused of failing to comply with a garda’s direction to immediately leave the vicinity of the place concerned in a peaceable or orderly manner, an offence that could result in a six-month sentence and a fine.
They were arrested just after midday.
The four arresting gardaí told the court the men made no reply to the charges.
There was no garda objection to bail.
All four were granted free legal aid and released on bail on a number of conditions including they stay away from protests in the Ballyogan area.
Judge Deirdre Gearty remanded all four to appear again before Dún Laoghaire District Court next month.
