Carry on up the Gorman: Dublin City Council depot successfully blocked by anti bin tax activists

dublin | bin tax / household tax / water tax | news report

Friday October 03, 2003 14:45

by Indymedia Kevin - IMC Éire

Report and photos.

The Dublin City Council depot in Grangegorman was successfully blockaded yesterday by a group of approximately 60 anti bin tax activists.

A High Court order barring two individuals from interfering with the collection of refuse was posted on the wall outside the depot.

The gates to the depot opened at 5pm for the evening run - primarily for collection of commercial waste (shops and businesses only) around the city. The demonstrators blocked the entrance, chanting "the bin tax is a double tax", "no way, we wont pay", and "all bins or no bins!". The truck stopped when there was no clear passage out onto the road.

The Garda arrived on the scene, and the demonstrators explained why they were blockading the truck. A DCC official flanked by the Garda read out an order over a megaphone to the crowd warning them they were committing an arrestable offence, but was drowned out with chanting.

The Garda then attempted to escort the small van through with the truck in tow, but again were blockaded by the crowd who were walking in a circle.

The Garda then gave up and the truck reversed back into the depot.

Pizza was brought to the crowd, and several younger members of the blockade took a turn on the megaphone to keep up the spirits of the demonstrators.