The 17-year-old-boy charged with the false imprisonment of Joan Burton will face trial after his Leaving Cert exams, a judge decided today.
The young man, who has been described as an honours student in school, is accused of being part of a group of protesters that trapped Joan Burton in her car as she attempted to leave a graduation ceremony where she had been a guest, in Jobstown, Tallaght.
The trial judge was asked today not to arrange the trial for a date prior to the young man’s Leaving Cert exams. The judge agreed, and a trial date will be set after the young man has his exams out of the way.
According to the Irish Times, the defendant is involved in community and charity work, helping the homeless and the elderly. Furthermore, he is not accused of any violent conduct that took place during the protest. He was only 15 at the time of the incident.
The date of his trial will be decided at a hearing next week.
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