A woman accused of obstructing traffic near the Thornton Hall site in Dublin has been granted bail. Shirley Kidd, 54, was arrested and charged with obstructing traffic and other Public Order Act offenses related to protests against the site’s plan to accommodate asylum seekers. The Government intends to use the Meath-Dublin border property to house around 1,000 asylum seekers in temporary tented accommodation, sparking demonstrations.
Judge Cephas Power granted bail to Kidd but ordered her to stay away from Thornton Hall, where the incident occurred. She must also sign in at a garda station three times a week. The defense requested a more precise condition, which the judge accepted. Kidd consented to the conditions and was released on €200 bail, with a court date set for September.
The case highlights the ongoing debates and tensions around the issue of accommodating asylum seekers in Ireland.