Bin protesters back in High Court today could face jail

SEVEN men and two women, alleged to have blockaded bin lorries during protests against waste charges in Dublin, face jail or a fine when they appear before the High Court today.

The nine were among 11 people arrested by gardaí yesterday on foot of a High Court ruling banning the obstruction of bin lorries in the Fingal County Council area.

A 12th person, a full-time organiser with the Socialist Party, is due before Dublin District Court this morning charged with breach of the peace.

The arrests were made in the Huntstown and Clonsilla areas of north Dublin. Gardaí moved in when residents and other activists, mainly from Deputy Joe Higgins’s Socialist Party, blocked the lorries in cul de sacs. Three people were arrested in Clonsilla and a further nine in Huntstown.

Nine of those arrested have been asked to tell the High Court today why they believe they should not be fined or jailed for contempt of court.

Two others, also arrested for allegedly interfering with the council’s waste collection in the Blanchardstown area yesterday, were told by Mr Justice Dan Herbert they were free to go after apologising to the court.

Paul Murphy, of Ardilea Downs, Mount Anville Road, Dublin, and Stephen Duggan, of Westhaven, Dublin, said they would comply with the High Court order.

Gerard Murray, Drumheath Drive; John Daniel, Colepark Road, Ballyfermot; Vincent Mannion, Sheepmore Close; Brian McEntee, Huntstown Drive; Tracy Duggan, Westhaven; Stephen Finley, Beechfield Drive, Littlepace; Gina Ward, Huntstown Wood; Alan Lee, Ashford Street, and Hugh O’Connor, Whitechapel Grove, (all Dublin) were released from custody after undertaking to return to court this morning.

James Macken SC, counsel for the local authority, told the court that following the imprisonment of Joe Higgins and Councillor Clare Daly on Friday last, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill made an order directing the gardaí to arrest and bring before the court anyone who, with knowledge of the existence of court restraints, continued to breach them.

Mr Macken said garda evidence would be that all of the people brought before the court had been involved in obstructing bin lorries in the Blanchardstown area.

Alistair Rutherdale, counsel for all of the 11 people in custody, said two of them wished to apologise to the court and give undertakings of future compliance with Mr Justice O’Neill’s order. The remainder would await presentation of garda evidence as to their activities and alleged contempt of court, he said.

When Judge Herbert said the court could not deal with the matter immediately, Mr Rutherdale said his clients were willing to give an undertaking to the court to return today for the presentation of evidence and cross-examination.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) will meet tonight to decide on their response to the bin charge campaign and the jailing of the two politicians. SIPTU has already indicated it backs the campaign.