The Workers’ Party candidate in Dublin North West, Jimmy Dignam, has offered his solidarity and support to the water charges protestors before the criminal courts this week.

Dignam said, ‘These trumped up charges are a clear case of political policing and are designed to intimidate citizens from showing their opposition to the austerity agenda of the current government. Instead of victimising the thirteen people being needlessly dragged through the courts today, the government and the state authorities should be listening to the voices of the majority of people who are opposed to the imposition of the unjust water tax.’

“At a time when criminal gangs are murdering each other on the streets of Dublin, it is appalling that the priority of the state authorities is to pursue ludicrous charges against citizens who are exercising their democratic rights and participating in the political life of the country. The huge number of Gardai present at protests against the water charges and meter installation would be better served tackling real criminals, who are endangering the lives of ordinary people.

The Workers’ Party calls for the charges to be dropped against all of the water charges protestors and for an immediate inquiry to be called into ‘Operation Mizen’, the Garda surveillance operation against water charges protestors. “We offer our full solidarity to those in court this week and we are confident that they have the backing of the majority of ordinary citizens of this country. Water charges must be scrapped and it is clear that attempts to bully people into pay are failing miserably and will not work”