188 water protestors arrested in past year

Up to 188 anti-water protestors have been arrested in the last year for a range of issues, including public order and more serious offences.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald released the data yesterday as she denied that public representatives opposed to water charges were being monitored by gardaí.

She told the Dáil that 188 people had been arrested since November 2014: “A total of 188 arrests have been made since November 2014 in regard to water charge protests and within that number some individuals have been the subject of arrest on multiple occasions. The majority of arrests made relate to public order offences and breaches of section 12 of the Water Services Act, although there have been arrests for more serious offences.”