Council seeks action against bin protesters

FINGAL County Council will seek a continuing injunction in the High Court today as part of the anti-bin charge campaign row.

Some Ringsend residents claimed a victory yesterday when some unpaid-for bins were collected. But the corporation said this was only because they were introducing a collection scheme on a phased basis.

However, the corporation insisted that some unpaid-for bins were left uncollected.

A spokesperson for Fingal County Council confirmed they would be pressing ahead for a full hearing to secure a continuing injunction.

According to the council, Socialist Party TD and anti-bin charge activist Joe Higgins and his “usual rent-a-mob” obstructed refuse collectors for a number of hours yesterday at Warrenstown, Blanchardstown, and had to be moved on by the gardaí.

Mr Higgins said they were used to those kind of derogatory comments, adding that the campaign was proving a tremendous success and the demonstrations were peaceful.

Meanwhile, Anti-Bin Campaign organisers in Ringsend claimed a victory yesterday when they said refuse trucks from Dublin Corporation had collected bins there from non-payers.

Anti-bin charge spokesman Shay Ryan said there had been a victory for people power. He said: “We have been in contact with workers in the Rathmines depot and they are on our side because they realise bin charges are the first step towards privatisation.”

A Dublin Corporation spokesperson conceded bins had been collected from non-payers, pointing out that this was because they were operating on a phased basis.

“We are starting and targeting specific streets initially and we are working it out from there.

It would just not be practical for us to introduce the whole thing in one day. It would be just be too much of a task and we are introducing it on a phased basis.”