Jail terms for water protesters

Five water meter protesters have been given prison sentences by the High Court for breaching an order restraining them from coming within a 20m exclusion zone surrounding installation works.

Lawyers for GMC Sierra, the company which has a contract to install water meters, had already secured injunctions preventing a number of individuals or anyone who had notice of the order from assaulting, intimidating or interfering with workers installing the meters. The company secured the order on November 5, after its lawyers told the High Court its workers had been harassed and threatened while installing meters in certain areas.

GMC subsequently moved contempt of court proceedings against seven protesters on grounds they allegedly breached the November 5 order in Phibsboro and Stoneybatter in Dublin .