A Catholic priest has openly defied the Irish government and publicly ripped up the bill for the new household tax.

Donegal priest Fr Brian O Fearragh tore up the document in front of thousands of protestors against the new charge.

The Irish Examiner reports that almost two thousand activists cheered as the priest ripped up the demand for $130 from the Irish government at the Donegal rally.

The parish priest told the Letterkenny meeting that he will ‘never’ pat the controversial charge.

“It is time for the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan perform or perish,” stated Fr O Fearragh.
“I feel that our unity here today is sending a clear message to Minister Hogan, and that message is: Minister Hogan, now is the time to perform or perish, the choice is yours.

“By perform, I mean: please listen and pay heed to the will and the actions of the vast majority of people of this country, who have not and, by the looks of it, will not sign up and register or subscribe and to these highly unpopular and regressive stealth charges.

“Pay heed and rescind these unjust charges, which are nothing short of a heavy imposition upon the people whom you serve.

“By perish, I mean, now is the time to repeal these unjust charges, or failing such, come next election, face the wrath of the Irish people.”

Protestors from Leitrim, Cavan and Sligo travelled to Donegal for the rally.

The priest added: “Householders and individuals are being penalised by these harsh austerity measures.

“While greedy and reckless and faceless bondholders are being rewarded, homeowners and individuals citizens of this state are being brought to their knees and deprived, and that is wrong.”