'I'm ready to go to jail'

Outraged residents of a dangerously unfinished estate in Ballyjamesduff cannot understand why they are liable for the household charge, with one resident saying he would rather go to jail than pay up. The Woodland estate off the Virginia Road, at Kilyfinla, had originally planning permission for 72 houses but only 41 were ever completed and around ten of those now stand empty. Owner-occupiers recently met with their local representative last weekend to "seek redress" over paying what they believe is an "unfair" tax. After that meeting owners agreed to register for the charge - not necessarily to pay - and to put their complaints on the return form while also ticking the 'waiver' box. For full story and pictures, see this week's Anglo-Celt.