A second person jailed over the non payment of ground rent is released.
Postman Liam O'Toole (William O’Toole) is a member of the Association of Combined Residents' Association. Since 1973 ACRA has been campaigning for the abolition of ground rent. On 14 September 1983 Liam O’Toole began a three day prison sentence in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin for refusing to pay ground rent of £47.64. Henry Hunt Limited, a subsidiary of the Mclnerney Group is Liam O'Toole's ground landlord.
In protest at the three day jail sentence given to Liam O'Toole the 800 members of the outdoor branch of the Post Office Workers Union (POWU) at the central sorting office in Sheriff Street stopped work for three hours. They marched to Mountjoy Prison and their collective action disrupts the Dublin postal service. The POWU also calls on all its members not to handle mail addressed to companies in the Mclnerney Group.
On his release from Mountjoy, Liam O’Toole remains adamant that he should not have to pay ground rent as it is an archaic system.
Inherited from the people that occupied the country in years before.
He believes it is time the government completely abolished ground rent.
Liam O’Toole is only the second person jailed over non payment of ground rent. However as £45 million is owed in ground rents, landlords are stepping up their action against ACRA members.
ACRA spokesperson Tony O'Toole calls on trade unions to support their members who are jailed over non payment of ground rent.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 September 1983. The reporter is Joe O’Brien.
