Video and editing: Michelle Hennessy/TheJournal.ie

SOCIALIST PARTY TD Paul Murphy has again defended his actions in being part of a protest which held the Tánaiste Joan Burton in Jobstown for over two hours on Saturday.

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with TheJournal.ie at our offices in Dublin this morning, the Dublin South-West deputy insisted that the “essence” of Saturday’s protest was peaceful.

He said that while he would not have agreed with Burton being held for the entire day, it would still have been a peaceful protest. He said he didn’t hear anyone use the c-word against the Tánaiste or throw a water balloon at her – though he condemned both incidents.

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He also insisted that he had nothing to apologise for, saying: “I don’t need to apologise for anything that I was responsible for or involved in.”

Watch an extended interview with Murphy about Saturday’s events above and look out for more on TheJournal.ie in the coming hours