Joan Burton recalls trauma of Jobstown protest

FORMER Tánaiste Joan Burton has spoken in depth for the first time about her response to the Jobstown trial.

In an interview published in Hot Press magazine last week, the one-time leader of the Labour Party also reveals that she’s received death threats, and was forced to take herself off social media because of the abuse she was subjected to.

She also says she would welcome a public apology for what happened that day in Jobstown from Paul Murphy TD, who was involved in the protest which led to the controversial court case. Along with a number of others, he was found not guilty of all charges.

In a wide-ranging interview, Ms Burton also revealed that she believes Ireland should introduce the so-called Portuguese Model to allow for the possession of all types of drugs – be it marijuana or cocaine – for personal usage without fear of being arrested.

“I just think the overall war on drugs has failed,” she tells the magazine.

Admitting that she suffers from nightmares over the Jobstown controversy, Joan tells Hot Press: “Yes, I did get flashbacks and nightmares, particularly when I read in the papers that court proceedings, about a year later, were going to be instituted.

“Because I had done my best, as I think people do when they’re in a situation like that, to forget it."

On Paul Murphy TD, Ms Burton has this to say: “I haven’t ever sought to speak to him. But if he wants to reach out and apologise, he knows where I work.”

On being forced to take herself off Facebook, Ms Burton further reveals: “I effectively handed over my Facebook and Twitter to people working with me and gave them the messages I wanted up. I used to really enjoy Facebook. I just gave it up – other than for occasional announcements, comments, or photographs.

“I found the trolling was so offensive and horrible. I sometimes worry about the people who write that kind of stuff – about the impact it must have on them when you write hateful things.” 

On receiving death threats, Ms Burton added: “Look, it’s a casual feature of misconduct on social media: acid attacks, and death threats, and stuff like that.” 

On the lack of women in Cabinet, she says: “Honestly, when you look at the men in the current Cabinet and then at the women on the Fine Gael backbench, I have to say, a lot of them are as every bit as good as the men who are now gracing the Cabinet.”

Ms Burton expressed the opinion that, as far as she is concerned, “Leo has ground to make up on that issue”.