A rally is to be held in Letterkenny today (SAT) in support of Tony Rochford who has been on hunger strike since June 17th.
Tony Rochford on hunger strike
Tony is protesting against the property tax and the effects the implementation of the tax has had on the self-employed and the citizens in this country.
Members of a number of Donegal protest groups including Donegal Action Against Austerity will hold a rally at Market Square beginning at noon today and ending at noon tomorrow.
“While individuals can make their own choices and we would not encourage anyone to take this action we do understand his frustration at the government. Because of his determination to follow through with his hunger strike we feel we must give him all the support we can,” said DAAA’s Joe Murphy.
As with many Tony’s property is in ‘negative equity’ and he 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 Certificate in order to work. He has tried to be a good citizen and suck up stoically his bad luck shared by thousands of people of his generation but a property tax levied on a house in which he has no equity is the final straw.
He is unable to pay his full mortgage and an additional tax only increases the hardship he is experiencing. The consequences of not being allowed to work will be that his family may lose their home and any hope for their future.
The Donegal protest groups are encouraging everyone to come out and support Tony and the position he finds himself in.
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