Jailings strengthen protesters’ resolve on bin charges

FAMILY and friends of the 12 people jailed for their part in the anti-bin charge campaign are expected to swell the ranks of the protesters taking part in today’s Dublin city centre demonstration.

On Thursday, 10 activists - including breast-feeding mother, Ms Lisa Carroll, and Mr Noel Kelly, a grandfather of 61 - were jailed for defying a High Court order not to interfere with Dublin City Council’s rubbish collection.

They joined Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins and party colleague, Councillor Clare Daly, who were sentenced to a month in jail on September 19. The two politicians are expected to be released from prison a week from today.

“I think people are very angry at what happened,” said a spokesman for the Fingal Anti-Bin Tax Campaign last night. “There was anger over Joe and Clare going to jail but people see a difference when ordinary people are sent down. I think the anger has deepened.”

Dublin Council of Trade Unions (DCTU), which is organising today’s demonstration and expects a massive turn-out, has sent a letter to Justice Minister Michael McDowell demanding the immediate release of the bin tax prisoners.

Protestors will assemble at noon in Parnell Square and march to Mountjoy Jail, where several hundred people gathered on Thursday night, in a noisy demonstration at the latest jailings.

The campaign spokesman added: “The political establishment now have a real problem, because all the councils are running to the courts and getting injunctions but people keep defying them and the injunctions are not having the desired effect in terms of dissipating the movement.

“In reality, when people defy them and get brought to court it’s strengthening people’s resolve. They can’t keep sending people to Mountjoy.”

Councillor Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party described today’s demonstration as the first official trade union-backed protest against the bin tax and the jailings.

“I think it’s a very good first step and I would like to see the trade union movement taking even more concerted action, particularly now that 12 people have been jailed.”

Coppinger said if farmers were in jail their organisations would rightly strongly protest, and she thought the trade union movement had to defend ordinary and working class people who were trade union members, in the same way as professional people are defended by their organisations.

In a letter of solidarity to the bin-tax prisoners, DCTU said the representatives of their local authorities “have again disgraced our city. By their actions they clearly demonstrated that there is one law for the rich and one for the poor. We know on which side of the law you stand.”

DCTU pledged to engage in a campaign among trade unions to force the Government and the local authorities to provide water, sanitation and refuse services from central funding.