AIB bank remains under occupation

A rural bank branch is this evening under occupation by local residents furious at plans to close down the office for two days of each week.

Five men began the sit-in protest yesterday at the AIB branch in Killenaule, Co Tipperary, following close of business.

They said they were trying to force a change of heart on the partial closure proposal, claiming it would lead to a total withdrawal of the AIB service in the town.

But a bank spokeswoman rejected that suggestion, and said the two-day mid-week closing had been prompted by a lack of demand for a full, five-day service.

She added: ‘‘It is nothing more than a partial closure. AIB even has plans to refurbish the branch in the immediate future.’’

At the bank itself, the sit-in was described as ‘‘a very amicable affair’’. A security guard stayed overnight with the protestors last night.

Local police said they were aware of the situation and ‘‘keeping an eye on it to ensure there was no breach of the peace.’’