Cork man on hunger strike over water charges

A 28-year-old man on hunger strike in protest over water charges has said he has been heartened and encouraged by the messages of support he has received from the public.

Gary Coleman from Southern Road in Cork city began his hunger strike last night outside Cork City Hall in a bid to highlight what he believes is an unjust tax on people.

“It’s a protest against the water charges - I won’t pay them and a lot of people are angry about them,” said Mr Coleman who says he is not a member of any political party or grouping.

"A lot of people are coming up saying they can't afford to pay them, that they have to go to Penny Dinners - they are angry but they are glad somebody is finally doing something about it."

Speaking on The Neil Prendeville Show on Cork's Red FM this morning Mr Coleman said that numerous people were stopping to talk to him at his tent outside Cork City Hall.

“The support is unbelievable - all last night there were cars pulling up, people asking me was I okay, was there anything they could do for me .... it’s amazing the support,” he said.

“They were telling me their stories and how they were finding it hard and how they weren’t willing to pay the water taxes - fire engines, ambulances, taxis, buses would beep me.”

Jim O’Connell of the Right to Water Campaign said he believed people need to fight against the water charges but he was concerned about someone going on hunger strike to do so.

“What Gary is doing is a reaction to the imposition of water charges - I would support any kind of protest but I would be very concerned about anybody putting their life in danger.”

But Mr Coleman stressed that he was going to continue to take liquids and that the protest would not “go on and on and on” and he was not going to put his life in danger.

A Facebook page, Gary Coleman Hunger Strike was last night and this morning attracting a lot of attention attracting over 5000 likes.