Bin-tax protests continue as more campaigners jailed

AROUND 400 anti-bin tax protesters held a demonstration outside Mountjoy prison last night after three more bin campaigners were jailed yesterday.

The Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax plans another protest at Clover Hill prison this evening following the latest jail sentences handed down by the courts.

Brid Smith, the campaign’s PRO, was sentenced to two weeks in prison. Two other campaign members from the Mount Tallant area of Dublin, Chrissy Heffernan, a 60-year-old grandmother, and Karen Heffernan, the mother of a 14-month-old baby, were also jailed.

Chrissy was sentenced to two weeks in jail and Karen was to one week.

The sentences were condemned by Dr Peadar O’Grady, spokesperson for the Ballyfermot section of the campaign.

“We will not be cowed by the courts, the campaign will continue to resist this unjust double tax,” he said.

Dr O’Grady said the mood at last night’s protest was one of “deep anger” but the campaigners are prepared for a long battle.

“This is going to run until the unions order workers not to collect the bins. We will keep fighting the tax until this happens and we’re ready for a long hard fight,” Dr O’Grady said.

It’s expected that in excess of 1,000 protesters will march this evening from Ballyfermot to Clover Hill prison where more campaign members are being held.

Last month, Socialist TD Joe Higgins was jailed for four weeks for his part in the waste charge protests in Fingal County Council's area.