‘They’re giving us no leeway... We have no safety net’

“They just don’t know what it’s like to be self-employed — we’re strapped to the ropes”.

That was the message from Tiles ‘R’ Us boss Owen Barrett yesterday, one of hundreds of business owners facing court action by Cork City Council for outstanding commercial rates.

Mr Barrett’s case was among 170 similar cases listed for hearing before Judge Olann Kelleher at Cork District Court on Wednesday.