Group in new protest against water charges

MR Jim Campbell (75), a pensioner from Templeogue, Co Dublin, was introduced to Mr Ray Kavanagh, the Labour Party's general secretary…

MR Jim Campbell (75), a pensioner from Templeogue, Co Dublin, was introduced to Mr Ray Kavanagh, the Labour Party's general secretary, yesterday by the Militant Labour councillor, Mr Joe Higgins.

But this was not a social occasion. Last week Mr Campbell had a Disconnection Order issued against him for owing £105 in water rates.

He is appealing it through the courts, along with four other members of the Federation of Dublin Anti Water Charges Campaigns.

The chairman, Mr Higgins, was drawing the attention of the Labour Party to the "double standards" it operates in pursuing people like Mr Campbell for water rates, while paying £100 million in EU fines incurred by the beef industry, and not prosecuting those responsible.

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A group of about 40 demonstrators began their protest against the continued imposition of water charges by picketing the offices of Democratic Left in Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, where they handed in a letter to a staff member.

They then moved on to Labour Party headquarters in Ely Place where they met, and had words with, Mr Kavanagh. "I'm not a public representative, unlike you," he told Mr Higgins. "There's a by election in Dublin West," warned Mr Higgins, who will be a candidate there. "I'm aware of that" said Mr Kavanagh.

The protest then moved to the offices of the third Government party, Fine Gael, nearby in Mount Street.

According to Mr Higgins 10,000 households have joined one of the anti water charge campaigns, "more than the members in Dublin of all the Government parties put together". The forthcoming by election will be made "a referendum on the water charges by the people in the communities", he said.