Councillor Carán O’Moore from Sinn Fein has condemned the jailing of the protesters and called for their immediate release, saying ‘Effectively, what’s happening is – democracy is being eroded by the Government and their political policing.’
Mr. Justice Paul Gilligan handed down prison sentences for four people; Bernie Hughes, of McKelvey Avenue, Finglas, and Derek Byrne, of Streamville Road, Donaghmede, were sentenced to 28 days in prison, and Damien O’Neill, of Greenwood Park, Coolock, and Paul Moore, of Mount Olive Grove in Kilbarrack, were sentenced to 56 days.
On passing sentence, the judge said that the actions of the protesters were “cowardly” and amounted to harassment of workers.
The mood of the people in relation to the monumental catastrophe that is the water charges issue is likely to darken further, only fueling the intensity to fight and resist the Government’s EU-led policies that are leading to years and years of austerity for the people on the street, while their own golden circles are well feathered and looked after.