The judge who last week jailed four Dublin water protesters has said the measure was a 'last resort' and that the door of the court is open should they reconsider their position.
A fifth protester, 64 year old Michael Batty of Edenmore Avenue, has apologised for breaching a 20 metre exclusion zone around the installation of water meters.
Damien O'Neill, Derek Byrne, Bernie Hughes and Paul Moore were jailed for interfering with the lawful installation of water meters by GMC Sierra in North Dublin last December.
Michael Batty's 28 day sentence was put on hold because the 64 year old is in Lanzarote.
His sentence could be revoked or suspended when he appears before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan on March 9th as he's written a letter apologising to the court and he's given an undertaking to abide by its orders.
The judge said the door of the court is open to the other 4 prisoners if they reconsider their position.
Lawyers for the 3 male prisoners say they've written to the prison authorities complaining that they were put on 23 hour lock up for 3 days, which they say amounts to an 'additional, unsanctioned and unfair punishment'.
Our Courts Correspondent Francesca Comyn reports:
