TD Byrne lashes out at spitting and kicking ‘thugs’

A TD whose son is a garda has lashed out anti-water protesters for spitting at and kicking members of the force and called campaigners against the levy "thugs".

Fine Gael’s Catherine Byrne made the comments during a day-long debate on the Government’s attempts to save its water charge regime and ease public opposition to the levy.

Most Fine Gael and Labour deputies welcomed the reformed water charges but Opposition TDs said the future finances for Irish Water were now “shaky” and people would still not pay.