VIDEO: Irish Water denies ‘secret deals’ to not install water meters in homes of protestors

Irish Water contractors are not installing meters in the homes of protestors after striking secret deals.

With the installation programme delayed across the country following mass demonstrations, scuffles, and court injunctions, it has emerged protest organisers have brokered deals which allowed meters to be installed in houses which have signed up, but not in those who objected to the charges.

Campaigners say they have struck agreements with contractors in Cork, but it is not known if the practice is widespread across the country. The campaign started in Carrigaline and Cobh and then spread to Tower, near Blarney.

Irish Water has moved to deny the claims and insisted water metering is continuing in the Cork housing estates at the centre of the claims.

Gerard Kavanagh of the Mayfield Has Had Enough protest group, said that he brokered the deal with contractors working in the Dromin estate in Tower last week. He said following consultation with residents, he identified households which did not want water meters. Following talks with the contractor, he said he painted blue ‘no’ signs on their stopcocks on the understanding they would not be metered.

“We took a gamble on it. He [the contractor] could have dishonoured his agreement, but he didn’t,” said Mr Kavanagh.

“If I look around the country, I see despicable, distressing scenes, residents standing on stopcocks being dragged at 60 years of age into the back of paddy wagons. That hasn’t happened here. That may be down to a particular engineer who may get rapped on the knuckles but he seems to have an honourable attitude to it. He doesn’t want his men to get grief and he doesn’t want to give grief to anyone.”

Mr Kavanagh said the success of the strategy encouraged residents of neighbouring estates to adopt the same approach.

Primrose Hill resident Lily O’Donovan, who has spent three and a half weeks protesting at her estate entrance, has painted a blue ‘no’ sign over her stopcock.

“We’re not paying for water because we’ve already paid for it in general taxation,” she said. “If we don’t take a stand, they can walk all over us.”

Despite the claims of the deal, residents at nearby Sunberry Drive have blocked contractors from entering their estate.

Elizabeth Feehan said they got no notification the metering work was due to start.

“They came in and he [one of the contractors] drove aggressively at us,” she said. “I put my hand up to stop him, he revved his engine and drove at us and made contact with my leg.

“I asked him to call his supervisor and he told me to go fuck myself.”

Residents at Willison, Riverview and Primrose Hill estates said they are also prepared to block contractors’ access.

Prominent water charges campaigner Brian Gould said they are prepared to negotiate on behalf of residents with contractors. He said similar deals were done in Cobh and Carrigaline, where objectors placed ‘no contract, no meter’ signs in their windows.

“I would rather they do not go into any estates but if we have to make an agreement like that with Irish Water, we’re up to it,” he said. “But it means they have to have good faith as well.

“In one estate in Cobh, they had that agreement but two days later they broke it. If they break their agreement, all bets are off.”

However, Irish Water said there is no such deal with residents in Blarney and Tower to not install meters at the request of homeowner.

“Water meters are typically installed on public footpaths outside private properties, therefore the issue of agreement with individuals does not arise,” a spokeswoman 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, which is a primary concern for Irish Water.”

She said meter installation works are continuing in both Blarney and Tower.