A Dublin butcher has said he is ready to spend a week in prison instead of paying property rates to the city council.

Stephen Troy of Troy's Family Butchers on Moore Street said the street has been neglected by the council for years.

He said dereliction and anti-social behaviour are destroying businesses in the area – and is accusing the council of failing in its duty of care to protect businesses.

"Audacity"

“It is absolutely incredible that they have the audacity to be even charging businesses rates on Moore Street,” he said.

“The council has neglected and failed in its duty of care towards rate-paying businesses in the city centre.

“We are absolutely riddled with anti-social behaviour.”

September 4, 2007: Moore Street Market, Dublin, Co Dublin, Ireland; People At A Market (Credit Image: © The Irish Image Collection/Design Pics via ZUMA Wire)

The funding generated by property rates goes towards the day-to-day costs of Dublin City Council services.

Mr Troy said the Moore Street area needs to see more of that funding.

“How they can expect to charge rates when they haven’t been looking after the area themselves is beyond me,” he said.

“This is well-known within Dublin City Council and it is well-known within Dáil Éireann as well.

Moore Street in Dublin

“We need a life raft and they need to start throwing one now, quickly.”

He said businesses on the street have been destroyed.

“I’m on my feet for 12 hours a day and I’m not getting enough time off,” he said.

“I’m working with much less staff than I ever had before and we’re working for less money as well and I’m doing more hours than I’ve ever done before.”

A company with plans for a major development on Moore Street has lodged judicial review proceedings against Dublin city Council over its decision to designate six buildings that played host to key moments of the 1916 Rising as protected structures.

UK company Hammerson plans partially or fully demolish the buildings.

The buildings remain derelict while the legal dispute rumbles on and businesses in the area believe they should get a “special circumstances” rates waiver until the issue is dealt with.

Dublin City Council has been contacted for comment.