“Scruffy” Occupy campaigners becoming a right pain for businesses

A group of businesses in and around Temple Bar claim the Occupy movement are driving away customers saying, “they’re no more than a bunch of scruffy people”.

Frank McQuade owns three clothes shops on Fownes St. in Dublin’s Temple Bar and he has recently managed to rally his neighbouring business owners to take a stand against those who are sitting down.

"They’re no more than a bunch of scruffy people sitting on crates," Mr McQuade claimed according to the Irish Examiner.

McQuade is acting as a spokesman for 13 Fownes St. Residents and Traders’ Association members. He has also sent a formal letter to the Central Bank (which is the Occupy HQ) asking for the protestors to be removed.

McQuade claims that up to 50 jobs could be at risk thanks to the lads down at the Occupy camp, who have been roughing it out on the steps of the Central Bank for the past four months.

So what’s wrong with fighting for your right to party not hand over a bucket load of cash to unknown hedge funds and the likes?

Well, it’s down to the state of the place, according to McQuade: "I’ve no problem with people protesting but it’s the nature and the sloppiness of it. The dirt and the filth and the rubbish of it," he said.

Occupy spokesman Steven Bennett said that the protestors have been working closely with shop owners so as not to cause any unnecessary fuss, "We have met with them. They had some complaints and we tried to be accommodating.”