A former Labour TD appeared in court in Sligo yesterday on an obstruction charge arising from a protest about tree-felling on Mullaghmore estate.
Mr Declan Bree claimed the garda who brought the case was involved in removing timber from the plantation.
The allegation made at Grange District Court by Mr Bree met with a rebuke from Judge Oliver McGuinness, who asked the Labour councillor to leave the witness box, saying it was a court of law and not a political platform.
The charge arose from a protest last September by residents at Classiebawn Estate, the former home of Lord Mountbatten, over tree-felling by the present owner, Mr Hugh Tunney.
A tree preservation order was served by Sligo County Council and a temporary injunction was granted stopping Mr Tunney from felling any more trees.
Garda Hugh McCole told the court yesterday he was responding to a call that a car owned by Mr Bree was obstructing the driveway of the castle on September 21st.
He asked Mr Bree to move the car but he moved it only one car length on to a green area, and he believed it was still causing an obstruction. He asked Mr Bree to move it again and the Labour councillor complied.
Mr Bree said local people had told him that Garda McCole had taken away trees after they were cut on previous occasions and that Mr Tunney had confirmed this. Judge McGuinness interrupted him and said he was trying to use the court for political purposes.
He applied the Probation Act.