Limerick County Council may ask the High Court tomorrow for orders jailing any water protesters who remain in occupation of the council's offices.
Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill was told yesterday that some protesters remained in occupation of the offices at Dooradoyle despite a court order on Tuesday directing them to leave.
The court was told on Tuesday that persons associated with the Bleach Lough Water Retention Group had occupied the premises on Monday as part of a long-standing protest against the council's plans to change the water supply to the Pallaskenry/ Kildimo area of Co Limerick.
The judge directed that any persons in breach of the order be brought before the court tomorrow to explain why they should not be jailed for breach of court orders. In an affidavit, Gerard Behan, the council's director of services, said a number of people entered the council chamber at Dooradoyle just after 3pm on Monday last and disrupted a meeting.
Some had failed to leave the premises and had remained there overnight. Gardaí were called to the offices late on Monday night and spoke to the protesters but they refused to leave and the Garda was unwilling to take further action in the absence of a court order. The presence of the protesters was disruptive of the business of the council and they had no entitlement to be there, Mr Behan said.
