Courts / Dublin / Report
Exclusion zones set up around water meter installation sites
Summary
In November 2014 the High Court granted GMC Sierra Ltd an order creating a 20‑metre exclusion zone around its water‑meter installation sites in Dublin. The company had earlier obtained injunctions in October to protect its workers from harassment, intimidation and interference. GMC claimed that protesters had escalated their activities, including blocking vehicles, damaging equipment and threatening workers, and that the protests were "seriously impairing" the installation work. Video evidence showed what the judge described as a significant deviation from lawful protesting, and other evidence suggested workers were followed home and subjected to assault. The judge, while recognising the constitutional right to protest, ruled that the exclusion zone would not apply to residents or people carrying out normal business. The order also prevented protesters from blocking GMC's vehicles from accessing or leaving the sites. The case was not about the policy of water charging but about protecting the rights of GMC's workers.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Exclusion zones set up around water meter installation sites. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 2014-11-05 Publication
Why: Today the company returned to Court seeking an additional order establishing the 20m zones around its work stations because of the escalation of what it says is unlawful activity by protesters. CNI source report
Places mentioned
- The High Court
- High Court
Topics
Stage Hearing Or Decision Violent Crime
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