Anti-bin charge campaigners defy High Court order

Anti-bin charge campaigners yesterday defied a High Court order restraining them from obstructing refuse collections, forcing Fingal County Council to abandon its service in some areas.

Protests continued in the suburbs of Skerries, Rush, Lusk and Balbriggan othe third day of demonstrations against Fingal County Council's decision to stop collecting bins from householders who have not paid their waste charges.

The temporary injunction granted to Fingal County on Thursday names a number of Socialist Party members, including the TD, Mr Joe Higgins, and councillors Ms Clare Daly and Ms Ruth Coppinger. The named protesters and those acting with them are warned not to obstruct refuse collectors or impede the passage of vehicles.

Three refuse lorries were detained by the campaigners yesterday. A group of less than 10 protesters blockaded a truck in the Mourne View estate in Skerries from around 9.30 a.m. A similar number held a truck in Hampton Cove, Balbriggan, while a smaller group continued to hold a truck which had started its collection in Santry on Thursday morning. There was a Garda presence at the protests, but as of last night no arrests had been made.

Protesters at the sights said the injunction would not prevent their continuing campaign.

"I'm not going to stop protesting because of a piece of paper," said Ms Fiona O'Louglin, who is named in the injunction and was in Skerries yesterday.

"I've had phone calls from other protesters this morning, we're all going to stand our ground."

Two gardaí in Skerries took the names of the protesters who were standing in front of the refuse truck holding placards, but then returned to their squad car and left the scene a short time later.

Supervising refuse inspector with the council, Mr Paddy O'Reilly, said the truck had already collected a large number of bins before it entered the Mourne View estate.

"We only came into the estate because the residents association chairman told us there were no protests here, now we're stuck with a truck full of rubbish."

The council had taken the decision not to attempt collection from estates where they feared they were in danger of becoming "hemmed in" he said, leaving residents who had paid their charges with full bins.

"We won't go where we're likely to be blocked, we're sticking to the main roads."

The refuse trucks in Mourne View estate and Hampton Cove were allowed to leave at around 2.30 p.m. when the waste collectors finished their shifts, on the understanding that they would not collect bins as they left.

Protesters in Santry maintained their hold on a refuse truck outside the Oak View estate for a second day yesterday. Groups of campaigners kept guard overnight to stop council workers retrieving their truck.

"The council came again at 7.30 a.m. this morning to try and take it away and then gardaí came at about 9.30 a.m. The Garda took our names and then they all went off together, Mr John Donoghue said.

Ms Margaret Donoghue, who had been at the scene since 2 a.m. yesterday said she was not concerned about the injunction. "It's only notification of an injunction, the council are just trying to bluff us, they're full of rubbish."

Fingal County Council said it has collected 70 per cent of bins on its routes since Thursday and has had a 40 per cent increase in sales of bin tags at its Blanchardstown retail outlet. The council has advised residents to leave out their bins by 7.30 a.m. on the day they are due for collection.