Fermoy teacher teaches 'class' in AIB protest

Earlier today, a group of children, together with their parents, were taught by a Fermoy teacher in AIB bank on the South Mall. The protest was organised by Fermoy teacher Robbie Hamilton in response to the bank bailout payments.

At around 11am the teacher began conducting a 'class' with around ten children in the bank. They remained in the main lobby of the bank for an hour.

Robbie Hamilton said: "Our point is that all of this public money which should be spent on education among other things, is being diverted to the banks. Public institutions are being subsidised to the nth degree.

"It's not fair on children and those who are supposed to benefit from public services," he said. 

He added that there was no confrontation with staff at the bank, who were very accommodating. He said that he was never asked to leave the premises. 

He said the children enjoyed their day. Mr Hamilton shook hands with all the bank officials on his way out. He added that it wasn't an anti-Government protest and "the European Central Bank are the bad guys here".

Protesters from Occupy Cork are also involved in occupying the bank. A spokesperson said that a teacher had decided to hold a 'class' in the bank since the Irish people had already paid for the bank. There are around ten members of Occupy Cork with the group.

This afternoon at 1pm another group protested the bank bailout. 'Cork Says Enough!' organised a flash protest outside Anglo Irish offices in Anglesea Street in Cork city.

The group is also demanding a referendum on the terms of the IMF bailout. It is their first action of a new campaign, the group said in a statement.