The founder of an Irish news photo agency has revealed he was forced to hand over photos from the agency's coverage of water protests to gardaí.

Eamon Farrell, editor of Photocall Ireland, said two gardaí arrived at their offices during the week, with court summonses for the photojournalist who had been working at a protest, and for an office manager who had copied images for gardaí.

Farrell said the agency had initially refused to hand over the images until gardaí arrived with a warrant.

"We were handing copies of the images over after refusing to do so unless a warrant was produced," he wrote in his statement.

"Eventually a warrant was procured and the images were handed over under protest and duress."

He said this was the third time the company had refused a request from gardaí, but the first time a warrant had been issued.

Explaining why the agency had not cooperated with gardaí initially, he said that it was not the role of the agency to do so, and that gardaí had the means to make their own recordings if they wished.

"To become the perceived ‘Eyes and Ears’ of the gardaí at protests and demonstrations and marches undermines our ability to carry out our work," he wrote.

"It is bad for democracy if the Fourth Estate ceases to be independent or seen to be independent of the other powerful arms of state," he wrote.

"My duty as a journalist covering the event was to record whatever I saw. Gardaí beating up protesters or protesters beating up gardaí, it did not matter."

Commenting on the story a Garda spokesman said, “As this investigation is ongoing An Garda Síochána are not in a position to comment. An Garda Síochána are required to gather all available evidence in the course of criminal investigations.”