Murphy AWOL as SDCC Pass Estimates

Budget passed in South Dublin by 16 votes to 3.

South Dublin County Council's adjourned Budget meeting took place in Tallaght tonight and there was little surprise in the result as the Budget, containing the much loathed Bin Tax were passed by a large majority.

The Budget was proposed by Labour Mayor Robert Dowds and won the backing of the three ruling parties on the Council, Labour, Fine Gael and the Greens, as well as Independents, Fianna Fail and the PDs.

The only party to oppose the Charges was Sinn Fein whose three councillors voted against the Budget.

The final vote was 16 to 3 with six abstentions.

The most surprising abstention was that of newly elected Socialist Party councillor Mick Murphy, who had been elected on a platform of opposing the Charges.

Murphy, who as well as being Secretary of the Anti Bin Tax Campaign in South Dublin served time in prison for opposing the charges, was conspicuous by his absence leaving opposition to the Charges to be expressed by Sinn Fein.