Investigation as water meter protester hit by digger

The Health and Safety Authority is investigating an incident in which a man was hit by a digger at the site of an anti-water charges protest.

Austin Dwyer, 55, who uses a wheelchair most of the time because of severe epilepsy, was standing beside the Irish Water-contracted digger to prevent it operating when the rock breaker attachment swung out and struck him.

The father of four had to be secured to a spinal board before being brought by ambulance to hospital for X-rays but he escaped serious injury and was released after several hours. He said he would be making a formal complaint of assault to the gardaí in the coming days.

“I was knocked off my feet. The digger actually lifted me off the ground and threw me over,” he said. “I’m black and blue around my ribs, my chest, my arm. My legs and feet are sore too.”

Mr Dwyer was protesting at Tonlegee Drive, Edenmore in North Dublin, where Irish Water contractors, GMC/Sierra, have been attempting to install water meters for almost three weeks without getting further than opening a few paving slabs.

The protesters said they were shocked yesterday to see the crew arrive accompanied by nine gardaí who surrounded crew members as they worked on the open sections.

Local councillor John Lyons said he was appalled at the turn of events and wanted to know who had requested the Garda presence and what information they had been supplied.

“The residents have been very peacefully protesting for the last two and a half weeks and bringing in a large police presence is no way to respond to people who are simply exercising their rights. This is political policing and it’s an abuse.”

Protester Ollie Moore, who lives on an adjoining street, said three houses were left without water after being disconnected and residents had to arrange for sympathetic plumbers to reconnect them.

“The contractors said, ‘no meter, no water’. They’re holding us to ransom and depriving people of essential supplies.”

GMC/Sierra would not comment on the situation and referred queries to Irish Water. Irish Water said the work carried out yesterday was necessary because of illegal tampering by protesters.

“This tampering posed a serious flooding risk not only to the affected houses, but also to the surrounding area,” it said.

It said the work was requested by residents and claimed some residents had complained to gardaí of intimidation by protesters. It said it had video footage of events from yesterday and would supply it to gardaí.

A Garda spokesman would not comment on the policing arrangements at the scene but said if anyone had evidence of wrongdoing they should pass it on.

“If there’s any complaint, from whatever side, we will investigate it.”