ANTI AUSTERITY ALLIANCE TD Paul Murphy, one of 18 people facing charges over an incident in Jobstown in November 2014, says the protesters want to face trial together

Today the case was adjourned to 3 May. This is the second delay in setting trial dates.

Murphy, together with Dublin Councillor Kieran Mahon and Anti-Austerity Alliance Councillor Michael Murphy, is among a group of 16 charged with false imprisonment of Tánaiste Joan Burton and Karen O’Connell at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown.

Others are facing charges of violent disorder and causing criminal damage.

Last month, prosecuting barrister Tony McGillicuddy suggested that the 18 be split into four groups for separate trials.

The protesters requested to know the reasons for doing so, and the DPP was due to write to them before the end of last month.

Delay

At today’s hearing in a packed Circuit Court sitting at the CCJ, McGillicuddy admitted there had been a delay in issuing the letter with the details to the legal teams.

He told the court that last month he gave assurances in good faith that the letters would be furnished to the accused, however he said the letters were only sent last Wednesday.

For that reason, the defence teams for the protesters sought a delay today to consider the contents of the letter and to take instructions from their clients. The prosecution said it was not objecting to a delay being granted by the court.

Speaking outside the court today, Murphy said their lawyers have sought the DPP’s rationale behind severing the indictment and breaking up the group into smaller groups

“In general we want to be as big and as united a group as possible. We want people to be able to stand together rather than in a series of different trials,” he said.

Our legal teams are looking for, really, the rationale on the basis they are saying these people should be tried together, and these people should be tried together. There has to be some sort of legal basis to it and it should be in the interest of justice.

“We think we should be tried together… we are standing united as a group,” he said.

Going through each case, the judge remanded the accused on the same bail conditions until the next hearing on 3 May, where it is expected it will be decided whether the indictment will be severed.

Comments are turned off on this article as the case is before the courts.

Read: “We think these charges should be dropped” – Paul Murphy defiant after Jobstown hearing>