Two serving members of Cork City Council were among a small group of anti-household tax protestors who were arrested when they refused to leave a Bank of Ireland branch in Cork city this morning.
Cllr Mick Barry of the Socialist Party and Cllr Ted Tynan of the Workers Party were among five people arrested for public order offences when they refused to vacate the Bank of Ireland branch on Patrick Street despite being asked to do so by gardai who were called in by bank management.
Around 25 members of the Campaign Against Home and Water Taxes gathered inside the branch while another group gathered outside at around 11.30am to protest against the salaries being paid to senior Bank of Ireland executives including chief executive, Richie Boucher.
Before starting their occupation, protestors spoke to staff at the branch about what they planned to do and held up placards criticising the payment of €843,000 to Mr Boucher and the imposition of property and water charges on home owners.
Mr Barry and Mr Tynan and three others were arrested by gardai at around 12.15pm when they refused to leave the premises and they were brought to the Bridewell Garda station where they were processed before being released 30 minutes later without charge.
Mr Barry – who topped the poll in his North Central Ward in the last local elections - told The Irish Times that the occupation was part of a national campaign of civil disobedience against property tax and water charges being introduced by the government.
“It’s part of a national campaign and different campaign groups around the country are taking different actions – here in Cork, we decided to target Bank of Ireland because the chief executive, Richie Boucher was paid €843,000 in a year.
“We believe the property tax which people are being threatened over now, including the threat to have it deducted from their wages or social welfare if they don’t register, will be used to fund the bailout of the banks including Mr Boucher’s salary.
“The people who should have been arrested today are the bank executives who brought this country to its knees not peaceful campaigners against the property tax,” said Mr Barry who previously went to jail in 2001 for refusing to pay refuse charges.
