Dublin court dismisses charges against water protesters

Independent TD Joan Collins and nine others were accused of failing to comply with a Garda’s directions to leave the site of a protest against the installation of a water meter.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy, in making his judgment, said there was no evidence that the protesters had breached section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

He also found that there were contradictions in gardaí evidence about the direction given by Sgt David Lynch to the protesters.

It was not proven that the protesters had heard the direction as the area was noisy and Sgt Lynch did not use anything to amplify his voice.

It was also not proven that the ten people were part of the group to whom the direction had been given.

Charges of obstructing a Garda against two of the defendants were also dismissed.

An eleventh defendant failed to appear in court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest on Monday.