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Water charges protester seeks to halt prosecution
Summary
Stephen Bennett, 44, of Pearse Green Sallynoggin, Dublin, faces charges of obstructing Irish Water under section 12 of the Water Service Act 2007 in both Dublin and Dun Laoghaire District Courts. He has filed a High Court application to halt his prosecution, arguing that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) lacks authority to prosecute offences under the 2007 Act. Bennett's counsel, Michael Ó Higgins SC, contended that only a water services authority can bring summary proceedings under the Act, and that the DPP, acting in each case, is not such an authority. The DPP countered that it is fully entitled to prosecute. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys granted Bennett permission to proceed with his challenge, placed a stay on the prosecutions pending the High Court's decision, and set a return date in July. The case remains pending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Water charges protester seeks to halt prosecution. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- 2016-06-27 Publication
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