Mayhem On O’Connell Street As Hundreds Hit Back At Jailing Of Water Protesters

Traffic ground to a standstill in Dublin city centre this evening as hundreds took to the streets in solidarity with four members of the anti water charges campaign that were jailed earlier today. Bernie Hughes of McKelvey Avenue, Finglas and Derek Byrne of Streamville Road, Donaghmede received 28 day sentences from Justice Paul Gilligan this afternoon after being found in contempt of court for their behaviour, with Damien O'Neill of Greenwood Park, Coolock and Paul Moore of Mount Olive Grove, Kilbarrack being jailed for 56 days. A further 28 day sentence was given in the case of Michael Batty of Edenmore Avenue, Raheny but a stay was put on the sentence as he is currently out of the country. The ruling has been met with anger this evening, with up to 300 people taking part in a city centre demonstration from O'Connell Street to Mountjoy Prison. Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy has also slammed the move, saying that the sentences were an “attack on the right of communities to protest against the imposition of austerity measures”. “The attacks from the State on the campaign against water charges needs to be met with a significant response by the campaign and communities, the protest which has been organised against political policing following the Jobstown arrests on Saturday can be a response in opposition to these attacks.”

More water protest pictures #irishwater pic.twitter.com/COzRtVkbDP — Darragh Collins (@DazColz) February 19, 2015

Protest after water charge demonstrators jailed for contempt http://t.co/MMBveGr2Bq pic.twitter.com/b2qNgsIJX8 — RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 19, 2015

NewsRevo : Ireland: Protest after #irishwater charge demonstrators jailed http://t.co/KUMAmQ312G … Pic conorfhunt pic.twitter.com/dEqQmto1f4 — Κινηματικά Νέα (@movement_news) February 19, 2015

Anti-water charge protest in Dublin after five jailed http://t.co/fB6XrEQ5fa pic.twitter.com/Q77fCgtoSt — Irish Times News (@IrishTimesNews) February 19, 2015