Two Galway women in court over Trump protest

Two Co Galway women have appeared in court in connection with an alleged public order offence at the Trump International Golf Club in Doonbeg.

The alleged incident happened on the 7th Green as US President Donald Trump's Marine One was in the air preparing to land yesterday afternoon.

Emma O’Grady, aged 41, of Inis Oírr, Co na Gaillaimhe, and Áine Ní Threinír, aged 35, of Cuirt Na Tra, Salthill, Co Galway, appeared at a special sitting of Ennis District Court last night.

Ms O'Grady, a theatre artist, and community worker Ms Ní Threinír are both charged under Section 6 of the (Criminal Justice) Public Order Act, where it is an offence for any person in a public place to use or engage in any threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

In court, Judge Adrian Harris granted legal aid to the accused.

There was no garda objection to bail and Judge Harris remanded the two on bail to appear at Kilrush District Court on 20 October.

Judge Harris granted bail on the agreed bail condition that the two stay away from Trump Doonbeg golf resort and must be of good behaviour.

For the court hearing, there was a large presence of gardaí at Ennis Courthouse with a small group of protesters and supporters of the accused locked outside the closed gates of the Ennis Courthouse site.

Speaking after the brief court hearing outside the gates of the courthouse, Ms O’Grady said: "At 3.05pm we were arrested by gardaí on the 7th Green just as Trump's helicopters were in the air landing."

Ms O'Grady said: "We were engaging in a peaceful protest displaying 'US warplanes out of Shannon' on our t-shirts and saying that 'Trump is unwelcome', calling for a Free Palestine and calling for the US military out of Shannon."

Ms O'Grady said: "We wanted to highlight that we want the US military out of Shannon and the Irish Government is spending €20m on security for a private trip this weekend. It is just wrong."

She said: "We don't want Trump here and to show Trump that he is not welcome here."

Ms Ní Threinír said: "In these moments people have to do what they can to say that 'this isn't okay'."

On Friday a third woman, aged in her 20s, was arrested for trespassing on the golf links. She appeared in court last night.