Updated 8.55 pm
PROTESTS CONTINUED AT the installation of water meters in Dublin today with the Dublin Says No groups saying that one woman in her 60s was taken to hospital with a fractured elbow.
A number of videos have emerged from a stand-off that occurred in the Woodbine Estate in Raheny with one of the videos showing the local woman Theresa Kelly being led away clutching her arm.
Derek Byrne of Dublin Says No told TheJournal.ie that the woman fell to the ground when she was pushed over by a barrier.
He says she landed on her side and was taken away in ambulance before gardaí arrived and took statements from those present.
There have been a number of similar protests in the local Dublin 5 area over the past three weeks and Byrne says that they have in some cases prevented the installation of meters. He adds that crews have installed between 10-12 meters in the Raheny, Donaghmede and Edenmore areas.
“Well at the end of the day we’re not there for trouble,” says Byrne. “But there’s been a number of health and safety breaches by the crews,” he alleges.
He says that the crews working in the area have begun adopting different tactics by splitting up and going to different installations throughout the day with some being forced to sit around with nothing to do.
There were also protests in the Seagrange area of Balydoyle and Dublin Says No say they will be returning there tomorrow morning when work is scheduled to resume.
Irish Water said this evening that they are investigating “the actions that resulted in an alleged injury to a member of the public”.
“Irish Water notified An Garda Siochána, who attended the scene. Irish Water respects the right to protest and endeavours to facilitate this right in so far as is reasonably possible, while maintaining the safety of the staff, the public and the site of work,” according to a statement.
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