Paul Murphy to raise issues about trial with Leo Varadkar

Solidarity TD Paul Murphy will question Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on a number of issues arising out of his acquittal of false imprisonment when he returns to the Dáil on Tuesday.

The Dublin South West TD was found not guilty, along with five other men, of the false imprisonment of then tánaiste Joan Burton and her assistant Karen O'Connell during a water charges protest on November 15th, 2014, at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Co Dublin.

Mr Murphy will speak in the house for the first time since his trial, which concluded last week, began at the end of April.

He is expected to raise his trial when questioning Mr Varadkar during Taoiseach’s Questions on justice issues .

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“I’m planning to put to him what we say is the evidence of what we say is a conspiracy,” Mr Murphy said, adding that he will ask the Taoiseach to establish a public inquiry into how the trial proceeded.

The Government has already said it will not set up an inquiry while the conspiracy claims have been rejected by the Garda Representative Association, which represents rank-and-file gardaí.

Fellow Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said the trial meant Mr Murphy was kept away from Leinster House for two months and unable to confront the Government.

Solidarity rallies

Mr Murphy is also attending a number of Solidarity rallies over the next week as the fallout from the trial continues. He will address supporters in Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Tallaght and Blanchardstown, and also spoke in Galway last night.

A rally in the Tivoli Theatre in Dublin on Sunday was also intended to recruit new members and Ms Coppinger said recruitment efforts were ongoing, and would continue at the latest rallies.

Mick Barry, a Solidarity TD for Cork North Central, said left-wing politics was on the "front foot" following the acquittal of the water protesters. "The political establishment were hoping that Solidarity and the left would be on the back foot – seriously on the back foot – after the verdict but the jury didn't given them what they wanted," Mr Barry said.

“Solidarity and the left are on the front foot. There is a lot of interest in left-wing ideas out there, as shown by the Corbyn surge in the UK and there is a lot of interest in what Solidarity stands for after the trial.

“We are organising a series of public meetings explaining what we stand for,” Mr Barry said of the rallies. “We are hoping for and expecting quite big attendances at the meeting.”

On what questions Mr Murphy could ask Mr Varadkar, Mr Barry said: "I'd be surprised if he raised justice issues in Mongolia. "

Mr Murphy will also hold a press event upon his arrival to Leinster House and is expected to bring some of his co-defendants in the trial to the Dáil and on to the public gallery.