MEMBERS OF Sinn Féin staged protests at two branches of Bank of Ireland yesterday at the bank’s failure to pass on recent 0.25 per cent interest rate cut to mortgage customers.

There was a sit-in at the O’Connell Street branch in Dublin while a protest took place outside the branch on the quays in Waterford. Both were during lunchtime and were described by gardaí as “peaceful”.

About 30 people, holding placards with “Bank Of Ireland, Cheating the Irish taxpayer” written on them, sat in the Dublin branch for about 45 minutes. Business was not significantly affected.

The branch closed for a brief time after the protest ended and re-opened shortly before 2pm.

Dublin city councillor Larry O’Toole called on the Government to introduce regulations or legislation compelling banks to pass on interest rate cuts.

“There is widespread mortgage distress, but the Government has done nothing to help people. Now, it won’t even stand up to the banks which have not passed on the interest rate cut.”

A spokeswoman for Bank Of Ireland described as “regrettable” the “targeting” of its branches. Customers and staff were disrupted, she said. It was particularly regrettable these disruptions occurred during National Enterprise Week when over 2,000 small businesses were showcasing their business in local Bank of Ireland branches nationwide, she added.

As the Dublin branch re-opened yesterday, customers were compensated with cake and biscuits from staff of the Paris Bakery on Moore Street, there as part of national enterprise week. The spokeswoman said the week showed the bank’s “commitment to support local small and medium enterprises to develop and grow in the difficult trading environment”.