Antiwater charges activists more determined than ever

The success of yesterday's protest against water charges has made campaigners “even more determined”, according to local activists.

Yesterday afternoon hundreds of people from across Westmeath traveled to Dublin for what was the largest demonstration to date in the campaign against the introduction of water charges. While Gardai put the attendance figure at around 30,000, organisers say that up to 100,000 participated in the march.

While he says that there was a festive atmosphere for much of the demonstration, Barry Carr from the Mullingar Says No To Water Charges group criticised Gardai for preventing protestors from marching past Leinster House.

“It was very provocative on the guards behalf. There were two lines of barriers, then two lines of guards, then the riot squad and then behind them guards with Alsations. There was no way we were going up Kildare Street. Some people started getting annoyed but most just started shouting 'shame on you' or 'you're one of us'.”

Mr Carr says that the large attendance at the protest and the behaviour of the powers that be has made activists “even more determined” to continue their campaign for the abolition of water charges.

"People were so annoyed at what happened at the Dail. Not being able to get near it in what is supposed to be a democracy. Ninety nine percent of people there are ordinary people. When we were standing up on Merrion Square people were handing out biscuits and chatting away, it was a party atmosphere.