Dublin man pleads not guilty to threatening behaviour during Dáil protest

Darryl McMahon, 48, of Charlestown Park, Finglas, is accused of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour on September 20 at Molesworth Street and failing to comply with a garda's direction to leave the vicinity.

About 200 protesters had held a demonstration outside Leinster House as the Dáil resumed.

Following an adjournment by Judge Paula Murphy to see if gardai would bring further charges, Dublin District Court heard there would be no additional counts.

A not-guilty plea was entered, and the judge ordered his hearing to be on December 18, along with another man charged with alleged incidents during the protest.

Philip Keogh, 45, Griffith Park, Finglas, faces the same Public Order Act charge for threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour plus a second one for obstructing gardaí.

At their first court appearance in September, Garda Glen Quinn said Mr Keogh had no reply.

"Following his arrest, he informed me he would not appear before the court on these charges because he does not recognise the charges," Garda Quinn had.

Defence solicitor Donal Quigley had said it was not that his client did not recognise the charges but that he "doesn't believe he should be charged" and did not admit them.

"It was a protest he was arrested at, and emotions in these matters can run quite high," the solicitor had said.

The court had refused to grant an order barring them from Molesworth Street and the houses of the Oireachtas because there was a Constitutional right of assembly, and "that would be a step too far."

They have been granted legal aid.

Thirteen people were arrested on September 20 over incidents close to Government Buildings. Gardaí at Pearse Street put in place a policing operation to facilitate the resumption of the 33rd Dáil.

Nine other men, ranging in age, and two women, in their 40s and 30s, have faced proceedings, with some getting adjourned and others resulting in defendants fined for public order offences.