Dale Farm: Three in court on protest charges
Three people have appeared in court accused of offences in connection with protests ahead of the evictions at the Dale Farm travellers' site in Essex.
At Southend Magistrates' Court, Ellen Yianni, 26, of Wyndham Crescent, Hounslow, west London, denied failing to remove a face covering under the Public Order Act on 19 October.
Padraig Egan, 26, from Ireland but currently living on the legal half of Dale Farm, denied violent disorder during the clearance on 19 October.
Michael Slattery, 63, of Oak Lane, Cray's Hill, Essex, pleaded guilty to a racially-aggravated public order offence.
Deputy District Judge David Purcell gave Slattery a nine-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £50 in compensation and £105 in legal costs.
Mr Egan will appear before magistrates on 13 December for his case to be sent to crown court while Ms Yianni will appear in court on 17 January.
The clearance of Dale Farm followed a decade-long row over unauthorised plots on the six-acre travellers site near Basildon.