Gardai have arrested 188 people at water protests within the last year — including six for assault and four for weapons offences.

Right2Water protestors have warned the Government the campaign against the charges will continue after tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the fifth major demonstration against the utility.

The jailing of five water charge protesters sparked demonstrations last night with supporters bringing a part of Dublin city centre to a rush hour standstill following the High Court’s decision.

Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy has called on the protesters who shouted personal insults at President Michael D Higgins to apologise.

Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy has called on the protesters who shouted insults at President Higgins to apologise.

Independent TD Paul Murphy has been accused of hypocrisy for criticising the release of a video in which he states he was elected to break the law, while praising whistleblowers in the past.

Anti-water charge protesters "descended on the Tánaiste’s car like hounds after a fox", Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted in fierce Dáil exchanges.

A REPUBLIC is no longer a republic if democracy does not matter. Democracy stops mattering if the right to dissent, and to protest, is not protected, if the rights of minorities are ignored, if government does not listen to the people. A republic stops being a republic the day fear is used to manipulate public discourse.

The Coalition is pinning its hopes on a revised set of "modest" and "affordable" water charges to take the heat out of public anger over the issue which spilled over into ugly scenes at fractious weekend protests.