Home pickets ‘not part of anti-tax campaign policy’

A leading figure in the Cork anti-property and water tax campaign has distanced the movement from claims that they plan to take their fight to the family homes of government politicians.

Socialist Party Cllr Mick Barry was reacting yesterday to comments made on RTÉ radio’s Liveline by a man who has been involved in several protests organised by the Cork campaigners.

John O’Donovan, who staged a lone protest outside the home of FG Cllr Joe O’Callaghan last week after an article in the Irish Examiner, said targeting the family homes of politicians is a new tactic which the group has decided to pursue.

“They are legitimate targets. These people have brought the war to every single home and family in this country. We’re bringing the war right back to them.”

It follows comments made by Mr O’Callaghan in an article in the Irish Examiner last week, in which he branded some campaign members as “blathering loudmouths” who need to “put up or shut up”.

“Most of these guys have no mandate. I want them and the other loudmouths in this campaign in Cork to stand for election.”

Speaking to Joe Duffy yesterday, Mr O’Donovan said the campaign was stepping up and that his protest outside Mr O’Callaghan’s home was the first sign of the new strategy.

He said protestors have become a “huge pain in the ass” for the main political parties.

“We’re taking it to a new level now. We’ve going to target the homes of TDs and councillors,” he said.

However, Mr Barry distanced the campaign from the tactic. “Picketing the family homes of those politicians is not the policy of the campaign. The fight against water tax will be built by nurturing mass community protest — not by actions of this type.”