Stephen Bennett loses water-meter obstruction challenge

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

Stephen Bennett lost his challenge over prosecuting water-meter obstruction in the Court of Appeal, reported on 9 July 2018. His lawyers argued that only Irish Water, rather than the Director of Public Prosecutions, could prosecute alleged offences under the Water Services legislation.

The Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s finding that the legislation contained no ambiguity and that the DPP’s ordinary power to prosecute had not been removed. The court was satisfied that the DPP could commence summary proceedings; no issue as to costs arose because Bennett was legally aided.