Anti-water charge protesters seeking to hand a petition of 15,000 signatures to Cork City Council calling for a boycott of Irish Water have refused to give it to a delegation of councillors after being told the Lord Mayor was unavailable to accept it.
The group of over 50 protesters had gathered outside City Hall ahead of tonight's fortnightly council meeting.
Diarmuid O'Cadhla of the People's Convention said the failure of the Lord Mayor, Fianna Fáil Councillor Mary Shield, to accept the petition in person, or to send a deputy, was an insult to the people of Cork.
An offer from a Fianna Fáil delegation of city councillors to bring the petition on their behalf to council was turned down.
Speaking afterwards, Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Martin said the Lord Mayor and her deputy were both unavailable.
He said the views of 15,000 people should be brought to council, and he was disappointed that protesters had rejected their offer.
Anti-water charge protestors outside @corkcitycouncil - calling on Lord Mayor's deputy to speak with them. pic.twitter.com/wMEoZF16Co
— Jennie O'Sullivan (@OSullivanJennie) May 25, 2015
Offer by FF Cllr Sean Martin to take petition & its 15,000 signatures on behalf of @corkcitycouncil rejected. pic.twitter.com/tXnVCz1xCv
— Jennie O'Sullivan (@OSullivanJennie) May 25, 2015
