Cork man, 81, chains himself to water pump in Macroom in protest against council 

The Macroom pensioner said the water supply has been there for 60 years and it should be 'restored not removed'

Con O'Leary is demanding that the water pump be restored to working order

An 81-year-old man chained himself to an old water pump in Macroom in protest against its removal, as he said Cork County Council has plans to replace it with an ornament. 

Con O'Leary chained himself to the water pump on Tuesday, on the two-mile bridge in Coolcower, Macroom. 

He said: "This is a water supply that has been here for 60 years and now the Cork County Council has made the decision to remove it, it is outrageous and it should not be tolerated." 

Call to restore water

The pump itself no longer works, but Mr O'Leary is calling for the council to restore the water supply, rather than replace it with an ornament. 

"This is going on for too long now," the 81-year-old said, adding that "no notice" was served to him about the pump's removal, though he is not sure if any other locals received a formal notice. 

Con O'Leary protesting the removal of a water pump in Coolcower, Macroom

"It is the worst thing that could happen in the 21st century, and I can't understand why it is taking place," the Macroom man said, speaking about the removal of old water supplies. 

Cork county council officials visited Con at the water pump and said that they would halt any plans to replace it, so a local helped him unlock himself. 

The passer-by said that Con agreed to be unlocked "once he felt sure no work was going ahead," but he added that the 81-year-old still stayed by the pump for a while after the council workers left. 

Cork County Council said they had no comment to make on Con's protest or the future of the water pump.