Seven men and two women, alleged by gardaí to have blockaded bin lorries in the Fingal County Council area yesterday, will tell the High Court today why they believe they should not be fined or jailed for contempt of court.
Two others, also arrested for allegedly interfering with the council's waste collection in the Blanchardstown area yesterday, were told by Mr Justice Herbert that they were free to go after they apologised to the court.
Mr Paul Murphy, of Ardilea Downs, Mount Anville Road, Dublin, and Mr Stephen Duggan, of Westhaven, Dublin, gave the court an undertaking on oath to comply with an existing High Court order outlawing waste collection blockades.
Mr Gerard Murray, Drumheath Drive; Mr John Daniel, Colepark Road, Ballyfermot; Mr Vincent Mannion, Sheepmore Close; Mr Brian McEntee, Huntstown Drive; Ms Tracy Duggan, Westhaven; Mr Stephen Finlay, Beechfield Drive, Littlepace; Ms Gina Ward, Huntstown Wood; Mr Alan Lee, Ashford Street, and Mr Hugh O'Connor, Whitechapel Grove, (all Dublin), were released from Garda custody after undertaking to return to court this morning.
Mr James Macken, SC, counsel for the local authority, told the court that following the imprisonment of Mr Joe Higgins, TD, and Cllr Clare Daly last Friday, Mr Justice O'Neill made an order directing the gardaí to arrest and bring before the court anyone who, with knowledge of the existence of court restraints, continued to breach them.
Mr Macken, who appeared with Mr John Doherty, said the court orders had been made in connection with a campaign against the charges for collection of waste and the refusal of Fingal County Council to collect waste from persons who had not paid the charge.
He said the gardaí had arrested and brought to court a number of individuals alleged to have taken part in a blockade of bin lorries and evidence of their activities would be outlined in support of Garda contentions that they had committed a contempt of court.
Garda evidence would be that all of the people brought before the court had been involved in the obstruction of bin lorries in the Blanchardstown area.
Mr Alistair Rutherdale, counsel for all of the 11 people in custody, said two of them wished to apologise to the court and give undertakings of future compliance with Mr Justice O'Neill's order.
The remainder would await presentation of Garda evidence as to their activities and alleged contempt of court.
When Mr Justice Herbert said the court could not deal with the matter immediately, Mr Rutherdale said his clients were willing to give an undertaking to the court to return today for the presentation of evidence and cross-examination.