Dublin City Council yesterday won its first case in legal actions against people who have failed or refused to pay the new bin charge.
Ms Belinda Kelly, Rathdown Avenue, Terenure, was ordered to pay the €120 charge, despite a decision by another judge to refer the case of three anti-charge protesters to the High Court on a legal point.
Just over a week ago, Judge William Early agreed to a request for a lawyer for three Finglas residents to state a case to the High Court on whether the charge was in compliance with the "polluter pays" principle. The residents were backed by the anti-bin tax campaign, comprising a number of groups from around the city.
Yesterday in Dublin District Court, the council brought two more cases against residents who are in arrears for last year's charge, including Ms Kelly, who was not present or represented.
Judge Conal Gibbons said had she attended, he would have been in a position to consider her case in connection with the case going to the High Court.
Senior executive engineer with the city council, Mr James Dowling, said Ms Kelly had been sent five separate reminders and letters but there was no response.