12 May Day protesters granted High Court bail

Twelve men who were arrested during Saturday's May Day protests have been granted High Court bail this evening after they were…

Twelve men who were arrested during Saturday's May Day protests have been granted High Court bail this evening after they were initially denied bail in the Dublin District Court this morning.

The men had been remanded in custody for a week after they appeared in Cloverhill court in connection with the disturbances.

Of 18 demonstrators who appeared at Cloverhill District Court, the 11 detained since their arrest on Saturday night had been remanded until May 12th.

They were all arrested as gardai stopped a march on the Navan Road proceeding to the Phoenix Park on Saturday night, where twenty five European heads of state had gathered for the accession ceremony.

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The men were mostly students in their 20s with addresses in Dublin.

Their bail applications were rejected by Judge John Coughlan because of the "seriousness of the offences and the events which occurred on Saturday night". There was no Garda objection to bail.

The men are all charged with public order offences relating to breach of the peace and failing to follow garda directions.

Mr Harry Johnstone (20), had been released on bail after being charged with stealing a garda hat, but was remanded back in custody on three further charges.

Two other protesters had bail approved and four more were remanded on continuing bail to appear again on June 16th.

A spokesman for the Dublin Grassroots Network welcomed the High Court decision to grant the men bail.

Mr Laurence Cox said: "The judge cited 'the seriousness of the offences' as a reason for refusing bail, in relation to minor charges such as breach of the peace and refusal to obey a Garda instruction. The High Court has clearly made the right decision in respect of these refusals."