The long-running dispute between the Householders Against Service Charges campaign in Cork and Cork Corporation is expected to end tonight with the decision of the protesters to discontinue dumping their household refuse on the steps of City Hall.
The campaign began in July last year when up to 100 members of the group refused to pay service charges for the collection of domestic refuse.
The corporation responded by ignoring refuse bins which did not have the required red sticker indicating that payment had been received, and campaigners began depositing their refuse in neatly tied sacks at City Hall each Monday night prior to the weekly meeting of the corporation. They also picketed against what they claimed was double taxation.
The dispute worsened when the corporation ordered litter wardens to issue on-the-spot £50 fines to members of the group taking part in the protest. This led to court appearances, and when the fines were not paid six members of the campaign served short sentences in Cork Prison.
One of the leading campaigners, Mr Ted Tynan, a former Workers Party member of the corporation, was due to begin his sentence last Friday but when he presented himself at the prison he was told his fine had been paid anonymously.
Although the Cork city manager, Mr Joe Gavin, has taken a hard line against the campaign, insisting that the city must recoup the cost of providing refuse services, it appears now that City Hall has relented in an effort to avoid further bad publicity.
Refuse bins without the stickers are being collected again, Mr Tynan said yesterday. However, the question of service charges remains, and Mr Tynan has indicated that if the corporation makes any further attempt to impose the ban the campaign will be reactivated.
"It looks like the end of the campaign. Now that the corporation has started collecting our refuse again, it would only be reasonable for us not to bring it to City Hall any longer. The corporation tried to break us but it failed, and we are still adamantly opposed to paying service charges. If they insist on this, we will have to take the appropriate action," he added.
It is understood the breakthrough came when the Cork Lord Mayor, Mr Tom O'Driscoll, offered to mediate between the protesters and city management.