The Workers’ Party has condemned the guilty verdict against a Tallaght teenager charged in relation to the alleged false imprisonment of Joan Burton at the 2014 Jobstown protest.

Workers’ Party spokesperson Seamus McDonagh described the verdict as vindictive and politically motivated adding that the decision could impose a lifelong stain on the character of a decent young man who was singled out by cowardly politicians.

Mr. McDonagh said that the even if the sentence does not go on the young man’s record it will continue to affect him for the rest of his life and he will continue to have his every move scrutinised by the gardaí, the media and the state.

“All of this for one reason, not the alleged detention of Joan Burton who was guarded by an armed garda driver, but to deter water protests which were getting too hot for the political class.  This is a shameful decision which will forever go down in the annals of Irish politics as a black day for this country”

The Workers’ Party is urging its members to join a protest outside the Central Bank in Dublin at 1pm tomorrow which is organised by Jobstown Not Guilty.