So many horns were honking in support of the anti-bin tax protesters yesterday that the windows in the High Court had to be closed so the judge could be heard.
The din in the street below almost drowned out Judge Iarfhlaith O'Neill as he announced he was granting an injunction against Socialist TD, Joe Higgins, Fingal County Councillor Clare Daly, and 13 others.
Motorists, cyclists, and even Dublin City Council van drivers lent their support to the men and women who said they were prepared to go to jail before they would pay an "unjust tax".
About 60 protesters gathered outside the Four Courts to cheer on the defendants. "No way - we won't pay," they chanted. "Don't be bullied by the Corpo." "Tax the rich to fund public services," and "Axe the tax" declared their banners.
Sporting her pioneer pin and a "Scrap the double tax!" placard, pensioner Nelly O'Kelly from Inchicore insisted she was prepared to go to jail for her beliefs. "I feel very, strongly about this," she said.
"It's a disgrace that ordinary working people are being dragged before the courts when the crooks are being given a tax amnesty," said Mick Quinn from Finglas.
"We have some support in well-off areas but generally this is an issue for the working-class.
"People in Shrewsbury Road don't worry about how they'll pay their bin tax." Like other protesters, he was strongly critical of the media.
"They have been very hostile to the campaign. They portray us as rent-a-crowd. They are not in touch with working-class people. They don't know what is going on in our communities."
Another protester, George Whelan from Crumlin, said: "Look at all the sympathy there is when the farmers protest. They can use their muscle to get what they want. We, the ordinary workers of Dublin, have to do the same."
Before they went into court, there were fiery speeches from the Four Courts steps from Joe Higgins and Cllr Daly. They vowed not to capitulate to attempts to "smash this campaign". "Let the defendants - so-called - go in," declared the Socialist Party TD as they entered the building.
The two politicians said they weren't prepared to desist from their campaign of civil disobedience. Judge O'Neill granted the injunction. The defendants came out linking arms. Higgins and Daly said they would go to jail if necessary.