Avoca resident gets household bill for husband 11 years after death

Family determined to maintain boycott alongside 700,000 households across the state

The desperation of the government to force payment of the household tax out of the 700,000 households across the state who are maintaining the boycott seven months after the government deadline was in evidence over the last week when Wicklow County Council sent 23,000 letters to a portion of those who they think are non-payers.

Included in this mail-out were a number a Wicklow residents who are deceased. These letters addressed to deceased loved ones have caused some distress and anger among family memebers.

Avoca resident Laura Crean whose father Georgie died 11 years ago described her mothers reaction when she received such a letter addressed to Georgie.

Laura said: "My mother was extremely upset and angry to have received a threatening letter from Wicklow County Council addressed to her husband, my father. The shambles of an approach by Wicklow County Council was further shown the following day when my mam then received the same letter addressed to herself.

"We are determined not to pay this unjust charge no matter what letters they continue to send to us and our deceased father. We would urge fellow residents in Wicklow to turn out at the protests that have been organised by the local campaign this Saturday in Bray, Wicklow Town and Arklow and show our anger and opposition to this bullying."