Right2Water warns Government that demonstrations will continue

Right2Water protestors have warned the Government the campaign against the charges will continue after tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the fifth major demonstration against the utility.

Among them were 23 protesters facing charges over incidents in Jobstown, Tallaght in Dublin last November when Tánaiste Joan Burton was forced to remain in her car for more than two hours after being prevented from leaving a graduation ceremony.

The Right2Water group, which organised the weekend march in Dublin, estimated about 80,000 protesters turned out.

Paul Murphy, Anti-Austerity Alliance TD, and one of those expecting to be charged over the Jobstown protest, claimed that if the Government does not “bow to the inevitable” and abolish water charges the next government will be under immense pressure to do so.

Trade unions affiliated to the campaign — Unite, the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, Mandate, the Communications Workers Union, the Civil Public and Services Union and Opatsi, the plasterers’ union — said they are now planning town hall meetings to gather more support.

Meanwhile, senior gardaí in Cork are to conduct the internal Garda investigation into whether or not reports regarding water protest charges resulted from information emanating from within the force.

Chief Superintendent Mick Finn and Detective Superintendent John Healy have been tasked by commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan with the inquiry.