Jailing water protesters was 'a last resort', says judge
The judge who last week jailed four Dublin water protesters has said the measure was a "last resort" and that the door of the court is open should they reconsider their position.
Damien O'Neill, Derek Byrne, Bernie Hughes and Paul Moore were jailed for interfering with the lawful installation of water meters by GMC Sierra in North Dublin last December.
A fifth protester, 64-year-old Michael Batty of Edenmore Avenue, has had his 28-day sentence was put on hold because he is currently in Lanzarote.
His sentence could be revoked or suspended when he appears before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan on March 9 as he has written a letter apologising to the court for breaching a 20-metre exclusion zone around the installation of water meters.
He has also given an undertaking to abide by its orders.
The judge said the door of the court is open to the other four prisoners if they reconsider their position.
Lawyers for the three male prisoners say they have written to the prison authorities complaining that they were put on 23-hour lock-up for three days, which they say amounts to an "additional, unsanctioned and unfair punishment".
