This was the week that was in Inishowen's Water Campaign

May 10, 2015

Some of most important water campaign stories that affect Inishowen from Donegal and around the country.

Inishowen Attacked by Thugs

Enda Craig Moville Community Against Meters

There is a rogue team of Irish Water meter installers in Inishowen peninsula and it’s time they were stopped in their tracks. Their ‘modus operandi’ is to ignore all installation agreements.
1. They use an unmarked van – this is not allowed.
2. They do not produce I.D. when requested
3. They invade private property without permission and refuse to leave when requested
4. They have given zero notification of their intention to install water meter installation. By Irish Water’s own agreement ( which was agreed with An Garda Siochana and is written on their web-site ) ALL residents must be given two weeks notice to begin with, followed by a two day notice and then, finally, must knock on your door on the mentioned day to alert you of the imminent water meter installation.
All this is being ignored as they move furtively from estate to estate installing meters without the knowledge of the residents. Worst of all, when challenged they use foul language totally ignoring their own work agreements and trample over the rights of the residents. This has now been well documented by the experience of a local Moville resident and indeed other examples now coming to our notice.
Our group,Moville Community Against Water Meters, has already made Irish Water and An Garda Siochana aware of this abuse and we are now calling on all our elected representatives to come to the aid of their constituents and insist that Irish Water deal immediately with the unlawful and unacceptable behaviour of this team of water meter installers.
See rest of Enda's statement in Craic On

Irish Water Treatment of Woman Appalling in Buncrana Together.

**Return To Sender Click Photo for full story**

Buncrana Man Defies Irish Water

I celebrate James Connolly who died in the 1916 rising by this small act of defiance and I castigate the Irish Labour party for their part in supporting and driving the Water Services legislation through. My act is what James Connolly would have done.

Moville Community will voice concerns Thursday April 14

Moville Community Against Water Meters will help and support residents in a Moville estate to voice their objections to the way they were treated by unknown thugs. This Thursday they will gather in the estate where a spokesperson for the community will read out their statement. Enda Craig said he will invite all elected representatives to come and support the community. He will also invite the media.

Buncrana Together believes that the workmen were working as subcontractors for Irish Water. The reason we say believe is because they did not identify themselves. There was no identification on their vehicle. We also believe that they were GMC Sierra employees.

Public meeting in St Marys Hall Muff tuesday 12th May from 8pm

Water Warriors Donegal and North Donegal Irsp are holding a public non political party meeting and public information night to highlight the ongoing fight against Irish Water and the installation of water meters and to show people the way to beat irish water is by mass nonpayment of the bills.

The meeting will be chaired by Simon McElroy from water warriors and Mark McKinney from IRSP. We invite all the people of the muff area and indeed anyone that wants to learn more about the protest. This meeting is an all inclusive meeting and we invite members from every anti water group in the area. Political groups are also welcome but this is a non party political meeting. We will only talk about the subject in question on the night please.

Irish Water Delivery Service Too Little Too Later

Irish Water are delivering notices using unidentified men who either put a leaflet through your letterbox or fling it on your doorstep. Some do not get a notice at all. There are no names or addresses on the envelope. We believe this was a reaction by Irish Water to our repeated complaints both to them and to Garda Siorhána. it is not good enough.
Click on the photo and at the bottom of article you can read what they should be doing.

The West is Awake

Glenties Resident Stop Irish Water

Water protest at Ard Patrick Estate in Glenties on Tuesday 28th April, 2015 undertaken by 14 members of the public comprising of Right 2 Water, Glenties Sinn Fein Cumman and Donegal Says No members. Water meters were prevented from being installed in houses with no persons present.

Ard Patrick Estate in Glenties on Tuesday 28th April, 2015

Pulling out of Gort Na Seglad

Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said that this is another victory in west Donegal this morning again. Well done al. Irish Water are now pulling out of Gort Na Seglad

Cruit Island Another Victory

Protesters, Cruit Island, were delighted by results of their protest. Gllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said "another morning with Irish Water in Cruit Island, west Donegal. It looks like only one or two meters are going to get fitted on the Island.

Residents Right to their property in Glenties stated clearly

In Glenties the rights to private property is questioned by residents. The households firmly state that the water shore or stopcock is their property. They state that as property owner or occupier they do not need to prove if it is private property or not. Irish Water need to prove that it is not as they are the party intending to carry out works. A spokesperson for the group say demand proof of them. Do not let them commence until they show you the maps and all their paperwork and where they got their permissions.

Irish Water being stopped in Glenties Co Donegal. Members of Donegal Water Warriors remove work protective fences because they are on private property

Worked Stopped in Gweedore

Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said "We have Irish Water at stop in Gweedore right now. They have being knocking at doors but every one is telling them they don't want a Meter. The foreman has agreed that they won't fit a meter if residents tell them that they don't want one.Keep up the Fight! We are Winning."

Pulling out of Annagry

Irish Government Approves Proposals On Debt Enforcement And Reaction

On Wednesday May 6th 2015 the Irish Government approved a Civil Debt Bill to abolish imprisonment of debtors & implement recommendations of 2010 Law Reform Commission report. This includes Environment Legislation to strengthen regulatory regime around the payment of water charges. The legislative stage could take up to 6 months before this bill goes to Dail for approval. See full article including official statement and opinions Here.

Read this interesting article by Gene Kerrigan in the Sunday Independent Apr 10. Click image.

At work?  On the dole? An employer?  Better call Saul — At work? On the dole? An employer? Better call Saul

Waterford Politicising An Garda Siochána May 7 2015

Video by Noel Mc Lawrence politicising the police

Sligo Protesters Make Enda Kenny unwelcome at Ballymote

Irish Water protesters heckling Enda Kenny at an ceremony in Ballymote Co Sligo ireland when he was unveiling a monument to Irishmen who died in the American civil war.

Fine Gael member provokes crowd in protest at Ballymote where 200 protesters gather to protest at privatisation of water. At 00:15 you can see one of Enda's lackeys pointing an umbrella like a rifle at a member of the congregation in an attempt to provoke crowd.
The protesters showed great respect during the National Anthems & the minutes silence. Enda kenny when he addressed the assembled people in Ballymote that he was "Delighted to be in Ballinrobe" drew some consternation from the crowd. The peaceful protesters were then held back against their will at the behest of Enda Kenny which was a clear attempt at provocation. Sligo News facebook page

Irish Water in Moville Co DonegalTreatment of Woman Appalling

May 8, 2015

This is a story from a Moville, Co Donegal resident outlining her experience of having been subjected to foul, abusive and threatening language and behaviour by Irish Water meter installers at her home. This resident has forwarded a video clip and an email to Irish Water headquarters.

I feel this is an abuse of my rights

Housewife viewing the unwanted meter on her property

This is a transcript from above video clip which we can't show.
"On the morning of Wed 29th April Irish Water came around to my home in and unmarked van. When I had seen them I came outside. I asked them to stop what they were doing. I told them that I did not want a water meter and that they were not welcome on our property. At that stage one of the Irish Water workers turn her fucking water off and see how she gets on. They then got into their van after installing the meter and left. The whole thing lasted about 30 seconds. I know that speaking from friends of mine that after they came to our home they then went up to Mill Glen in Moville and installed meters without any permission and without informing the residents. I would like to add that Irish Water sent me no notification that they were coming to our property to fit this meter. We knew nothing about them coming. They did not even knock on the door on the day that they arrived to install the meter. The time that we seen them with the meter half installed already. I do not want this meter. I feel this is an abuse of my rights. It's abuse by Irish Water and I want Irish Water to come and uninstall this meter. Then they can give me the relevant paperwork and the relevant notice and we can go from there."

Statement
“On the morning of Wednesday 29th April at approximately 10:30am an unmarked white van came on to my property in Moville, Co.Donegal and two men proceeded to install a water meter. I asked them politely to leave my property, I told them that they were not welcome and that I did not want a water meter, this is when one of the workers used abusive, threatening language and said "turn her fuc*ing water off and see how she likes it" The two work men had no formal identification and I was not informed that they were installing the meter two weeks prior to this date (as per Irish Water protocol) or even the morning that they arrived onto my property and they refused to leave my property when asked to do so.In order to somewhat rectify this situation I ask that the Irish Water workers in question be identified and dealt with appropriately. I demand a written, unconditional apology from Irish Water for this abusive and threatening language and immediate removal of Irish Water's illegal and unwanted water meter.”

Enda Craig local Moville Meter Action Group

Above and beyond the scurrilous abuse

Enda Graig spokesperson for the local meter action group said " this abusive Irish Water meter installer must be identified and dealt with. We demand an unconditional written apology from Irish Water for this abuse. We demand immediate removal of Irish Water illegal and unwanted water meter from her property. This has to be considered a very serious incident. Above and beyond the scurrilous abuse by the installer a number of points arise
1. An unmarked van was being used.
2. No notification is in breach of Irish Water protocol.
3. No I.D shown by the meter installers.
4. Foul and abusive language having been told to 'fuck off' by Irish Water meter installers
5. Refusal to leave private property when requested. This is a private estate.

This clip and details will be forwarded to An Garda Siochána in Buncrana, all national and local political representatives in the Inishowen peninsula and all media outlets.

Further details can be found in buncranatogether.com Irish water Insulting Inishowen People

This is the text from Irish Water's own promotional material. Clearly they are in breach of their own protocol.

This is the text from Irish Water's own promotional material. Clearly they are in breach of their own protocol.

Irish Water is installing water meters countrywide. The majority of households will have a meter fitted by 2016. There is no need to apply to have a water meter installed. At least 14 days before the work begins you will receive an information pack that explains our work and what to expect when we install your water meter.

Tell this to the Inishowen people. You liars.

Buncrana Against Irish Water Chairperson Returns Irish Water Bills

May 8, 2015

James Quigley, chairperson of Buncrana Against Irish Water returning to sender by post, 3 bills sent to him by Irish Water. I am returning this correspondence because I do not recognise Irish Water, do not understand their intent and I don't have a contract with them.

The label on the envelope is one which I was given by Fliuch.org, a Cork based anti water campaign group who have given me a lot of help and support. I would like to thank them very much for their expertise and their continuous hard work

This is my record that I have returned these 3 envelopes. Irish Water can do what they like but I will not recognise them, I will not sign a contract and I will not be paying them anything. I will not let them install dangerous and unwanted smart meters on my property.

I would like to say that this is a record of my defiance against our corrupt government. This year is the 100th anniversary of the 1916 rising when we are supposed to be celebrating and remembering the generations who have struggled and even died to reclaim independence and ownership of our land. Instead it is a year of hardship and struggle against a government who is intent on handing ownership of all our natural resources to private owners. This government has lied, threatened and have condoned abuse on the Irish public. People have demonstrated that they in no way support this government. They have no mandate.

I would encourage everyone not to have anything to do with Irish Water. Do not recognise them, do not sign a contract and join our boycott campaign.