Woman hurt in meter blockade

A woman was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured elbow after one of several confrontations between Irish Water contractors and protesters in Dublin yesterday.

YouTube footage taken moments after the incident in Raheny show a shaken Theresa Kelly being led away from a meter installation site on Woodbine Rd to the footpath.

Protestors claimed she suffered her injury after being struck by a plastic safety barrier which had been erected around a work area.

She was removed to hospital by ambulance for treatment. Gardaí were also called to the scene.

Earlier YouTube footage showed protesters confronting Irish Water staff and contractors as they tried to carry out their work.

Footage from the Baldoyle area shows a protester standing under a pneumatic drill as it was being operated.

Irish Water said it is investigating the Woodbine Road incident.

“Irish Water notified An Garda Siochána who attended the scene,” a spokesman said.

“Irish Water respects the right to protest and endeavours to facilitate this right in so far as is reasonably possible, while maintaining the safety of the staff, the public and the site of work.”

Meanwhile, Irish Water confirmed last night it has installed 10 meters on Woodbine Road following claims by one woman that she was the only person on the street to have a water meter installed. Vanessa Fagan, 30, claimed she had been singled out because of her ex-partner’s involvement in the water meter protest.

But Irish Water said the address was scheduled to have a meter installed during the period in which work took place.

“Due to disruption to our works, it was not possible to install all the scheduled meters,” the spokesman said.