Councillor in hot water for Facebook rainwater

A Fine Gael councillor and adviser to one of the party’s MEPs has apologised for suggesting water charges protestors should drink rain water and said that she has been "overwhelmed" by the reaction to her comments.

Laura McGonigle claimed the comments had been an attempt to highlight the cost of treating the public drinking supply.

The Cork City councillor, who works as a political assistant to Ireland South Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune, made the comment on her Facebook page on Saturday when an estimated 150,000 people marched in protest against the water charges. “They should collect all the rain water while out marching today and drink that for the week!” she posted.