Ex-IFA head freed from jail by ‘an enemy’

Former IFA leader John Dillon was set free from Limerick Prison yesterday by a mystery person he branded “an enemy”.

Mr Dillon, aged 64, had been arrested at around 10.30am at his farm at Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, over the non-payment of a fine and costs arising from a run-in with the authorities at the last election, when he stood unsuccessfully as an independent.

The widower had already embarked on a hunger strike when the money was paid and the prison gates reopened at 2.15pm.

Mr Dillon was arrested for not paying a €200 fine and €2,000 in costs after being prosecuted by Limerick County Council for breaking the law with electronic roadside signs.

After fewer than three hours behind bars, Mr Dillon walked free after the prison service was told the money was paid, much to Mr Dillon’s dismay.

On his release, he told reporters: “I ordered anybody that paid a fine on my behalf would actually be an enemy of mine. I would not appreciate it or thank them one bit.”

He was due to spend eight days in jail. “I had decided that I would not eat anything for the eight days I was in there. I never wanted to go to jail. Jail is no place to be. That’s a place for animals.”

Mr Dillon said he had been placed in a “very cold cell” with a man who was in for attempted murder.

A spokesman for the prison service said the fine and costs had been paid shortly after Mr Dillon arrived at 11.10am. Asked how it was paid, the spokesman said, given the quick manner in which he was allowed out, it may have been cash.

The spokesman said: “Once the money was lodged, we could not hold him any longer.”

Neighbour and farming activist David Thompson, who was with Mr Dillon when the gardaí arrived with the arrest warrant, said: “The guards said they were doing their duty and John, who was feeding cattle at the time, went and changed out of his work clothing.”

After being brought to the prison shortly before 11am yesterday morning, a statement was issued by Mr Dillon, saying: “I did not seek nor did I invite this outrageous abuse of power, but I will suffer it gladly if it shows people what an absolute joke the law has become, and how dangerously vindictive the political classes are. Let there be no doubt, I will survive prison.”

Mr Dillon was prosecuted by Limerick County Council over his use of large electronic mobile signs placed in fields near major roadways.

“The electronic display signs which I used in last year’s general election were used by candidates in several constituencies, some of whom ran for political parties, and yet I find myself singled out for this outrageous sentence.

“I am going to jail proudly because maybe it will take something like this for people to wake up and see that in today’s Ireland, it’s one rule for the political cronies and another rule for anybody who stands against them.”

He added: “I will defend my right to free speech and my right to campaign within the limits of the electoral acts.”