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Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
water mess
Irish Water don't give notice of disruption "in areas protests are likely"
A junior minister says that workers have been bitten and threatened.
IRISH WATER HAVE told a customer that water disruption is not notified in certain areas “where protests are likely”.
In an email exchange, seen by TheJournal.ie, the company told a reader in Louth that their estate was disrupted without notice because of the fears of contractors.
The reader had asked why their water had been shut off without notice.
Irish Water responded:
We have looked into your query and have received an update from our contractors advising that they did not deliver advance notification in certain areas, including your estate, where protests were likely to take place. I do apologise for any inconvenience caused for the lack of notification for the installation of your water meter.
An injunction was granted earlier this month that established a 20 metre exclusion zone around water meter installers.
Yesterday, junior Environment Minister Paudie Coffey told the Dáil that around 50 assaults had been reported against staff.
Speaking during a Private Members’ Bill on the issue, Coffey said that workers had been attacked with hammers and spat on.
Hot water has been thrown on workers. Tyres have been slashed on a number of work vehicles including at the homes of workers. Some protesters have driven their cars at metering staff.
“Workers have been spat on, had objects hurled at them from glass to stones and been hit with hammers and shovels. There has been verbal abuse and threats of violence.”
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