The High Court has refused to grant a fresh injunction against anti-water charge protesters who have allegedly interfered with the installation of meters in north Dublin.

The protesters said they were willing to give undertakings not to harass, endanger or intimidate workers but they were not prepared to commit to not interfering with the works.

Mr Justice Max Barrett told GMC Siera - the company responsible for installing the meters - that he had a difficulty granting the injunction it sought as it directed demonstrators 'not to do what they ought not to do' anyway.

He told the protesters in court that they could not take an 'a la carte' approach to the law.

The company will now bring attachment and committal proceedings against a number of demonstrators this Thursday.

10 days ago GMC Siera Ltd secured injunctions stopping nine north Dublin residents and anyone with knowledge of the orders from unlawfully interfering with the installation of water meters.

The company claimed its employees had been subjected to an organised campaign of violence, harassment and intimidation in areas like Raheny, Coolock and Airfield.

The firm also claimed it was only a matter of time before someone was injured.

The residents denied any wrongdoing but the orders against them were dropped when they came to court last Wednesday, and gave undertakings not to breach the terms of the injunctions.

But on Friday last, lawyers for GMC Siera returned to court a third time - alleging that seven of the nine residents had breached those undertakings.