Republican News · Thursday 4 April 2002

MacManus slams Sligo anti-refuse prosecutions

Sinn Féin election candidate for Sligo/Leitrim Councillor Seán MacManus has called on Sligo Corporation to cease and desist" following news of summonses served on local anti-refuse privatisation protestors.

"This is a highly inappropriate action to be taking against the concerned residents - on the very day the Corporation is due to meet with them to discuss their concerns," he said. "It is also an outrageous abuse of power against a legitimate protest, and I call upon Sligo Corporation to cease and desist.

"In the past, the Corporation has stated that it hasn't the resources to bring legal action against slum landlords, as the Sinn Féin councillors have argued for. Yet somehow the Corporation has found the resources to go after residents exercising their democratic right to protest. This is not acceptable, and I question how this can be so.

"I fully back the concerned residents, and believe that their right to peaceful protest must be respected. I would like to see the charges against them withdrawn."