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ANTI-AUSTERITY ALLIANCE TD Paul Murphy has described yesterday’s jailing of four anti-water charge protesters as an attack “on the right of communities to protest against the imposition of austerity measures”.
The politician – who himself was arrested and questioned for his role in last November’s Jobstown protest – said the court had jailed the four at the behest of Irish Water contractors GMC Sierrra “so that they can continue to try to impose water meters on communities which have risen up in peaceful protest against their installation”.
“Once again, the courts have been used to attack the right of people to engage in peaceful protest.”
In the same statement, AAA councillor Michael O’Brien accused the Gardaí of acting “as bully boys on behalf of the government and GMC Sierra through physical attacks and harassment of those who have engaged in the protests”.
Five Dublin protesters – one of whom was not in court yesterday, as he was abroad – were found in contempt of a court order and sentenced to at least 28 days in prison.
Justice Paul Gilligan said the protesters actions amounted to “harassment and intimidation of GMC workers”.
He added, “The court cannot stand idly by while those who disobey his orders walk free.”
Gilligan found the five had breached a court order telling them to stay at least 20 metres from water meter installations.
Protests in Dublin city centre in the wake of the sentencing brought traffic to a standstill on O’Connell Street, as supporters of the jailed demonstrators marched to Mountjoy.
Meanwhile, in an interview last night, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that while Ireland was a democratic country where people have the right to protest “the courts are the completely independent bodies who make those decisions and we abide by that law”.
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You have more chance of being bitten by L. Suarez than by a shark.
I think I love you!
A bit soon Jackie no? Good shout though Simon!
Ah, the heart wants what the heart wants. Eh Jackie?
I hear The Clarion are doing great weekend deals! You two should look into that.
15 minutes would probably do me Paperboy!
Suppose, no point paying for that!
That folks is a true shark in action.
Obviously the chance of being killed by a shark is low but only because most people don’t spend all day swimming with them. This is why we need to introduce mandatory honours maths.
Jesus Christ! You are an idiot.
Don’t worry John you can stay in foundation.
Watching JAWS in the Adelphi in Dublin when I was a kid was one of the most terrifying but thrilling memories of my childhood cinema experiences. Sumner trips to Brittas Bay were never the same after JAWS.
Nothing but pee in the pool and that can’t kill ya.
Funny thing is Glen that pee can actually attract sharks. They sense the urea, apparently one of the reasons surfers get hit!!
And flesh-eating bacteria, possibly piranhas.
Saw a great notice in a swimming pool in Dublin a few years back’ there’s no p in our ool so keep it that way’. Thought it was a classic
Many shark attacks are played down in Australia. don’t want to scare away the tourist’s.
Richard, that’s absolute horse shite!! Idiototic statement!!
Did you read the article , in 100 years there were 13 fatalities from great white shark , I’ve counted about 5 deaths in the past couple of weeks of divers just around ireland alone ….
Still want sharks to be protected, would be a shame to see them extinct. Sea is their turf, we gotta be respectful and know our place.
Scientific fact; sharks will only attack you if you are wet :-)
We’re gonna need a bigger comments section!
You can see the set for Jaws at Universal Studio in California
But make sure you wear sun cream though and if you get hot drink water and don’t swim in esb lakes and don’t use your mobile in your car and only drink 3 units of alcohol.,,, don’t worry about natures most ferocious predator it’s grand
Arr squiddy, I hates the sea and everything in it.
Haaa Haaa haaaaa..
In fairness the other side to point out is that if someone came into your house in nothing but speedos you’d freak out too………
“Sharks are not out to get us” – what about those chaps from Uss Indianapolis in ww2, didnt the sharks relentlessly go for them? If sharks are in the water, Im out!
My sister is a hammerhead shark and is mean. So I’m now afraid of sharks.
So would anyone dare go for a swim in shark infested waters haaaa?
Glad we all know what George Burgess is doing with himself these days.
You mean “jaws” wasnt a true story!
So, if I’m a ‘bump and bite’ option on the menu and blood is drawn, and given that sharks can smell blood in seawater for miles, can I consider myself to be unlucky to be surrounded by various hungry sharks queueing for a sample?! This article is so biased towards the animal it’s unbelievable. ‘Go sell crazy somewhere else, we’re all stocked up here…’
Really!!! So we don’t have to be d least bit worried!
Sharks should be worried about human attacks. Humans love playing the victim.
Phew , I am so relieved
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