Man with track record leads tractor convoy to Dáil in hospital protest

HE TOOK on the ESB and won. Now he’s taking on Mary Harney and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to save his local hospital.

Joe Burke led a convoy of tractors pulling hospital beds out of Bantry in west Cork yesterday bound for the Dáil to fight plans to downgrade Bantry Hospital.

Mr Burke shot to national prominence over three years ago for his stance against ESB plans to erect overhead power lines in his area.