Meter installers to return to estate after stand-off sees two men arrested

Irish Water says its meter installers will return to the Cork estate where they were yesterday refused entry by residents opposed to water charges.

Two men were arrested during the standoff between the residents of Brooklodge in Glanmire and Irish Water meter installers.

The two men, Brian Gould and Ger Kavanagh were arrested at the scene at approximately 9am and were brought to Gurranabraher Garda Station.

Residents say that both gardaí and Irish Water workers had left the scene by 9.30am.

The Garda Press Office said the men were arrested for obstruction; released shortly after; and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public ProsecutionsDPP.

A spokesman for Irish Water said yesterday said the arrests were a matter for the gardaí.

He added: “This work will be rescheduled in due course to enable works to be carried out in a safe manner. Meter installations are continuing in the south west region, to date in excess of 735,000 meters have been installed nationwide and over 90,000 in the South-West region.” the spokesman said.

Defiant residents block installation of water meters in two Cork estates http://t.co/m3Z8Fiide1 pic.twitter.com/gLwSuwEkyQ

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) August 5, 2015

Neither of the arrested men live in Brooklodge, but residents at the demonstration by the estate’s entrance said they called upon the experienced protestors for their guidance.

“We asked them to come down for advice, because they know a lot more than we do about it,” said Martina, a Brooklodge resident who only provided her first name.

“We wanted a bit of support. The guards wouldn’t talk to them because they weren’t residents.Martina, a Brooklodge resident who only provided her first name, said.

“We don’t believe we should have the meters, I don’t want a meter. We’re paying enough, I can’t afford to pay anymore.”

The group were at the entrance to the estate from 7am, and have maintained the protest for the past two weeks since residents received letters informing them that there area was scheduled for watermeter installation.

Residents held meetings and then polled the 88 households in the estate to gauge the level of resistance to water charges. Of those 88 households, just 12 said they consent to having the meters installed. Martina said she thinks the 12 households are “naive” and fearful of the repercussions if they do not accept the meters.

“My opinion on it is that they should have come out to the meetings first to find out what it was all about. I think that they’re just afraid of what is going to happen to them if they don’t get it in. Will they stop the money from their pension, or their wages for the people who are working? I think they’re afraid,” she said.

The protestors said meter installers refused to give assurances they would only install meters at the 12 houses that consent to having themdevices fitted.

“I think that there would have been nobody arrested this morning if the guy from Irish Water had given his assurances that none of the other houses would be touched,” one resident said.