John Darcy and Anthony Eccles face contempt hearing

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

John Darcy and Anthony Eccles had their legal-aid challenge set for a High Court hearing on 9 December 2014 over alleged contempt of court. The contempt claims concern alleged interference with GMC Sierra workers installing water meters in Dublin city. The High Court refused to pause those proceedings, which were due to continue before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan on 19 November 2014.

The men deny the allegations and argue that people facing possible loss of liberty in civil contempt proceedings should receive State-funded legal representation. Their challenge followed advice that the Legal Aid (Custody Issues) Scheme did not cover people allegedly in contempt of court orders.

The legal-aid challenge seeks declarations concerning the State’s responsibility for their legal costs.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.