Water meter company claims protesters breached court orders

GMC Sierra, a company installing water meters in Dublin, has claimed before the High Court several people have breached court orders restraining harassment of its workers.

The company intends to proceed with contempt applications against a number of people opposed to water charges, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan was told.

Lawyers for some of the individuals want the contempt matter stayed until a separate High Court case concerning the entitlement to legal aid of people facing contempt proceedings has been determined.

GMC Sierra Ltd previously secured injunctions preventing various individuals and anyone with notice of the order assaulting, intimidating or interfering with workers installing water meters.

The court was told workers had been harassed, obstructed, assaulted and threatened while installing meters in the Dublin 5 and Dublin 13 areas.

Earlier this month, the company secured an additional order establishing 20m exclusions zones around its work stations after an alleged escalation of alleged unlawful activity by protesters.

Lawyers for the protesters allegedly in breach of the order said they deny any wrongdoing and argue they are protesting in a lawful and peaceful manner.

Adjourning the contempt proceedings to next Wednesday, Mr Justice Gilligan said the judicial review was separate from the case before him.