Three anti-water charge protesters have been given a suspended 28-day sentence after being found guilty of contempt of court.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan has found that the demonstrators breached an injunction to stay 20 metres away from water meter installation works in North Dublin.

The sentence has been suspended for six months on condition that the demonstrators abide by the court's order.

The three protesters - Damien O'Neill of Greenwood Park, Coolock, Paul Moore of Mount Olive Grove, Kilbarrack and Terence Sheridan of Kilbarron Park, Kilmore West - never really denied that they had come within 20 metres of the water meter works in Donaghmede and Cabra.

However they insisted that they had at all times acted lawfully and had not intimidated or harassed workers hired by GMC Sierra to carry out the installations.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan said their approach was difficult to comprehend in light of their actions which he called an affront to the authority of the court.

But he found the breaches were not very serious, and imposed a 28-day jail sentence which he has suspended for six months on condition the three men abide by the order to stay away from water installation works.

A number of other demonstrators were at the court today to show their support for the three men. Derek Byrne explains why they were there:

Originally posted at 12.13pm