DONEGAL anti-austerity campaigners have travelled to Dublin in a bid to persuade a man to end his hunger strike.
Tony Rochford is outside the Oireachtas and entering Day 18 of his hunger strike in protest at the Home Tax.
Former IRA hunger striker Tommy McKearny has agreed to advise Tony about the effects his protest will have on his health.
Joe Murphy from Donegal Action Against Austerity told Donegal Daily: “We need support to build a campaign to save Tony.
“We travelled to Dublin yesterday to talk to Tony and try to talk him out of his hunger strike but to no avail.
“We do not condone what Tony is doing but we understand his frustration at the government because of his determination to follow through on his hunger strike we feel we most give him all the support we can.”
Mr Rochford has already lost more than two stone and there are already concerns about his health.
He has vowed to fast to the death.
Support
Said Mr Murphy: We are calling on people to take part in a solidarity fast this Saturday July 6th from 12pm until Sunday July 7th 12pm which will take place at Market Square in Letterkenny.
“We would urge people to attend and Support Tony and the people that will be fasting, even if you can not fast yourself. Support for Tony is very important.”
Tony Rochford has been on hunger strike since June 17th. He is protesting against the unfair property tax and the effects that it has had on the self-employed and the general public in this country.
Said Joe Murphy: “Like many Tony is in negative equity and has struggled to pay his mortgage. While unemployed Tony used his and his wife’s savings to pay their mortgage.
“Now Tony finds himself in a situation where he is unable to get a tax clearance cert in order to work. He has tried to be a good citizen and suck up stoically his bad luck shared with thousands of people of his generation but a property tax levied on a house in which he has no equity is the final straw. At a time when he can’t pay his full mortgage an additional tax makes his finances less sustainable and by not being allowed to work the consequences will see his family lose their home and any hope for their future.”
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