Rally over jailing of anti-water charge protesters

A protest is being held in Dublin this afternoon over jail sentences handed down to water charge protesters for contempt of court and the ongoing arrests of anti-water charge protesters.

The protest is due to get under way at around 2pm at the Central Bank in Dame Street with the demonstration heading to Mountjoy Prison.

Anti EU banner at central bank #waterprotest pic.twitter.com/qClCJtG8yh

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Meanwhile, protesters from a number of different groups are gathering in Castlebar in Co Mayo to protest against Government cuts and the introduction of water charges.

The demonstrators stopped outside Taoiseach Enda Kenny's constituency office on Tucker Street and chanted their opposition to Government policies.

 
They have gathered outside the hotel where the Fine Gael National Conference is taking place.
A number of groups are involved in the protest including the local Right2Water Campaign, the National Reform Movement, representatives from the People Before Profit campaign and members of a group called Forgotten Farmers.
A number of people travelled to Castlebar for the demonstration on buses earlier.
Protesters from Leitrim, Sligo, Galway and Dublin are among those taking part.

 

Protesters making their views known to delegates on their way into the Fine Gael National Conference.

At the conclusion of the march through the town, a number of speakers outlined their opposition to Irish Water during speeches outside the conference venue.

Around 200 people have been listening to the speeches outside the TF Royal Theatre.

Independent Sligo Councillor Declan Bree told the gathering that nothing short of the abolition of water charges would be accepted by those opposed to the measures.
He said the Government needed to know that no carrot was big enough to quell the anger of people regarding charges.

Cllr Bree said the jailing of activists would not weaken the resolve of the campaign.
He said it was an outrage that people had been jailed for trying to prevent the introduction of water metering and he called on all those opposed to charges to mobilise and ensure there was a mass campaign of non payment when bills were issued in April.

A number of protesters gathered around a bus transporting delegates to the conference this afternoon and chanted "shame", as the Fine Gael members made their way into the afternoon session.