Joan Collins TD and 15 others arrested at Water protest Parnell Rd, Dublin 12

April 20, 2015

Is this a new development of cooperation between An Garda Siochána and Irish Water in the much disputed installation of water meters in Ireland?

Up to 15 people including Joan Collins, United Left Alliance TD, were arrested today, Monday, April 20, in Parnell Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12. The first arrest began around 9am. The people were protesting peacefully against installation of water meters. Protesters said that they were standing on the pavement peacefully protesting when they were arrested. Ms Collins claimed that three gardaí had their batons raised and that one protester was pepper sprayed. Gardai have said that those arrested were released without charge and files on the matter would be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Irish Times
The Irish Times reported that Ms Collins was taken to Terenure Garda station for questioning and has since been released. A file is due to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Ms Collins said she resisted in a peaceful way. She said: “I was supporting the constituents in my community.
“I believe I behaved the way I should have.” The United Left TD told Newstalk 18 gardai arrived at the scene.
She said she had been elected to oppose such measures including the bin tax.

Joan Collins TD, United Left Alliance being arrested Monday morning April 20, 2015

Councillor for Left Alliance Pat Dunne was also arrested and said this signalled a “change in Garda tactics”.
Mr Dunne said: “There was no meters being installed. We were awaiting a meter to be installed.
He said gardai used the Public Order Act and said it signals a change in Garda tactics.
“It was bizarre. It was a peaceful protest. There was no pushing or shoving.”
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said TDs who make the law have a duty to uphold it.
He said: “Those few people who have the opportunity to change the law and who have the privilege to do it and to pass new laws have a particular responsibility to obey that law once it is passed.”

Cllr Pat Dunne, United Left Alliance also arrested.

The Journal.ie online newpaper

The Journal.ie also reported the incident. They quoted Joan Collins after being released as saying:
"I was arrested by a Garda sergeant this morning while attending a peaceful anti-water meter protest. I was released in the last few minutes and am now back at the protest. The charge against me and other protesters was that I was in contravention of the Public Order Act. I was simply standing on a public footpath. My United Left colleague, Cllr Pat Dunne was also arrested together with 14 other residents. He has also been released. Our rightful fight against Water Charges will continue"

The journal also said that Cllr Tina McVeigh was present at this morning’s protest and said they were protesting the installation of water meters.
McVeigh claimed that the gardaí were “heavy handed” in their policing of the protest and says that she herself was pushed.
She said that their behaviour was dangerous on what it is a busy south inner city roadway.
“Gardaí should be protecting the safety of the community, not the interests of Irish water,” she said.

This Morning on Parnell Road Crumlin, Cllr Pat Dunne and Joan Collins TD where arrested along with 13 other residents and activists for peacefully protesting against Water Meter Installations.

Irish Water: Outrage as woman who died six years ago is sent water bill

April 19, 2015

**Angela Murtagh holding up an Irish Water bill which was sent to her mother Mary O'Brien who died six years ago**

Angela O’Brien was left shocked when the hated utility firm sent a bill to her late mum Mary Jane O’Brien – who would be 96-years-old if she was alive.

The family of a woman who received a water bill for their mother who died six years ago have demanded answers from Irish Water.
Angela O’Brien was left shocked when the hated utility firm sent a bill to her late mum Mary Jane O’Brien – who would be 96-years-old if she was alive.
Angela said: “My mum lived with us in a granny flat at the side of our house. She passed away in 2009. Irish Water sent her a registration pack and we sent it back.

**Mary O'Brien who died in January 2009**

“Where is this company getting her name and her information? This is what I would like to know.”
When the bill arrived Angela said: “I was very annoyed and upset about it.”
“The registration pack (from Irish Water) did arrive first and then me and my husband Declan got a pack too. This means we got 2 packs and 2 water bills for this address.
“When mum was living here with us she was living in a granny flat that we built onto the side of the house for her. It is all one place, it is not a separate dwelling.”Irish Water installed just one meter for their house, with the granny flat, in Balreask Village in Navan, county Meath.
She said: “The fact that she got the bill.. well we can’t understand how or why.

We’d like to ask Irish Water why did she get the bill and what are they doing with her name? It is very annoying when you get the bill.”

She said her mum would not have paid the bill if she was alive, “There would not be a hope. This bill will not be paid.”
Her mum also spent the last two years before she died in a nursing home.
She and husband Declan Murtagh are concerned that her mum’s name and address may be linked to television licences.
She said: “The only thing we can think of was, she had to have her own television licence because there are two doors to the dwelling (so) we had to have two licences.”
Angela has not registered with Irish Water “and I don’t intend to. We have paid for water twice and three times over and I don’t see why we should have to pay for it again. Irish Water should be free.”
Declan said: “We are not looney left. We vote for Fine Gael last time but we won’t be voting for them again.”

I have no clue,” how Irish Water got her name

**Michael Murtagh holds up a water bill that daughter Michelle received despite living in Canada for two years**

Another family member, Michael Murtagh said he was amazed to find that his daughter who emigrated to Canada nearly 2 years ago has got a bill from Irish Water.
Michael, who is a nephew of Declan and Angela, said, “Michelle (25) has been living for nearly the last 2 years in Calgary in Canada. I could not understand how they sent out the bill in her name.”
He said, “I have no clue,” how Irish Water got her name and address. “I was dazzled how they sent this out in her name.”
Michelle is still getting polling cards at her Dad’s home in Navan but she now lives in Canada with partner Keith.
He believes the operation of the billing system is “by people who haven’t got a clue what they are doing. Where they get this information about people I do not know.”
I can’t understand where they are getting this information from. I couldn’t believe it to see it in my daughter’s name. I have not registered with Irish Water and I won’t be.
"It has been paid for already and even now it has been announced that your motor tax is going towards Irish Water. Why should we pay for it and pipes and everything leaking all over the country?”
He is worried that the unpaid bill will work against her if she ever wants a mortgage. “I’d be afraid if she happened to come home and they went to buy a house or anything like that. Maybe they would want this bill paid for a house she has not been living in for 2-3 years.”

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/politics/irish-water-outrage-woman-who-5550638

A dead woman from Derrybeg, Co Donegal Sent Irish Water Bill

April 19, 2015

Cllr Michéal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig has informed Donegal radio station Highland Radio that he was approached on Friday 17 April by a family in the Gweedore area of Donegal and told that their mother, who was deceased for a good number of years, had received a bill from Irish Water. He said " the family is very upset and very angry as you would imagine. Here again we have Irish Water sending out bills and not knowing who they are sending them out to. I would be looking for an apology from Irish Water. The whole thing has been a disaster from day one."