Bankers sponged in Cork City

Ógra and SF activists and City Sinn Féin councillors and members recently held a protest outside Bank of Ireland on Patrick Street, to highlight the contrast between the billions handed over to banks and the lack of assistance for ordinary householders.


























Reprising a theme used in the past, members of the public enthusiastically queued up to throw wet sponges at Ógra Shinn Fein's National Organiser Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, who was dressed as a banker for the day.

The protest was part of Cork Sinn Féin's ongoing housing campaign.




















Speaking at the event, Cllr Jonathan O'Brien stated: "The government's indifference to the plight of ordinary homeowners struggling with mortgage arrears and negative equity, or the hundred thousand waiting for social housing, is in sharp contrast to the extraordinary commitment it has shown to bailing out the banks.



















"Sinn Féin believes the people who really deserve a bailout are those ordinary families who bought properties at inflated prices during the boom, convinced by the government's promise that it would never end, and now find themselves with mortgages worth more than their houses and, all too often, without jobs. Banks which have been bailed out should be obliged to write off a portion of the difference between the purchase price and the current market value of a family home for those average income households who bought their properties since 2004.



















"We also want vacant properties taken over by NAMA to be handed over to local authorities to provide homes for some of the 100,000 people on the waiting list."

Ógra organiser Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire added, 'Todays stunt was a bit of lighthearted fun, and the response was great, people were happy to take the opportunity to have some some craic and to 'take out their anger' on the bankers.


















But having said that there is also the very serious issue of home repossesions and people struggling with mortgages, as well as the massive waiting list for social housing. But while this government is happy to throw good money after bad supporting the banks, ordinary citizens and their housing needs don't seem to be a priority. While we had a bit of craic today, make no mistake there is a great deal of anger out there on the way our money is being spent.