Two Cork City Councillors and a number of other protesters were arrested earlier when they staged a protest in a Bank of Ireland branch in Cork city.They have since been released without charge.

Councillors Mick Barry and Ted Tynan and a number of protesters from the Campaign Against Home and Water Taxes group were demonstrating at the Bank Of Ireland on Patrick Street.

They were expressing opposition to the €843,000 payout to the bank Chief Executive Richie Boucher while the rest of the country is being forced to pay the property tax.

The protesters refused to vacate the premises and were taken to the Bridewell Garda Station under the Public Order Act.

Campaign Against Home and Water Taxes activist Conor Payne said "We did this in order to draw attention to the bailout of the banks and the resultant austerity that has been foisted on people not least in the form of the property tax".

"When asked to voluntarily move on by the Gardai activists declined but offered up no physical resistance. Under the public order act a number of activists have just been arrested among them City Councillors Mick Barry and Ted Tynan and taken the Bridewell under the Public Order Act".

He added that this was a "totally disproportionate act by the Gardai and in stark contrast the the consideration the authorities have shown to the big bankers".

Speaking to Cork's RedFM on his way to the garda station Councillor Barry said he had no regrets.