I'll fight on for decent people, says tax rebel as she's freed
Trembling with anger, council tax rebel Josephine Rooney was released from prison yesterday.
Far from being relieved after spending a night behind bars, the 69-year-old spinster voiced her fury at the benefactor who had paid her outstanding £798.97 bill.
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And the devout Christian vowed if necessary to return to prison and continue her campaign to bring decency back to her neighbourhood.
'I told the governor that this wasn't the end,' said Miss Rooney back home in Derby last night. 'They would see me again.
'I was devastated when I was informed that my council tax had been paid. It just means this campaign drags on and on but I'm very determined.
'I'm not paying this year's tax, I'm not paying next year's and I'm not paying the year after that. I could be going back into prison in 20 years' time with my zimmer frame until there is a reversal of policy.'
Miss Rooney withheld her council tax in protest at Derby City Council's inactivity over drug-infested and crime-plagued Hartington Street where she lives.
On Monday, she was led from court in handcuffs to start a three-month sentence after telling magistrates she had to take 'drastic action' because the council had failed to tackle anti-social behaviour and poor housing in the area.
The once-genteel street had been dubbed Crack Alley and 1,100 used needles were found there in one weekend last month.
Retired insurance broker Ed McGrath has now 'bought' her freedom but Miss Rooney said: 'I am very upset. The person who has done this does not understand my campaign and has misunderstood me.
'I have been planning this for two years. I have the money myself. I made it clear that I had the funds in a holding account.'
The jailing of Miss Rooney, who recently received a Respect award from the Home Office for her work trying to improve life in her community, provoked outrage. But
before being sent to prison she had urged well-wishers not to settle her debts and thwarted bailiffs by selling off most of her prized possessions.
Her brother, Roman Catholic priest Father Liam Rooney - speaking before news of her release - said: 'Jo told me she wants to serve the sentence to make her point and she is terrified that someone could pay her council tax for her and she would be released.'
She voiced suspicions that her benefactor 'must be a council sympathiser' to have settled her bill. But Mr McGrath, 68, of Little Bookham, Surrey, said he paid up because he could not stand to see the pensioner serve the full three-month sentence.
He said: 'I just feel three months is too long for a lady in her circumstances. I think the best result is that she's out.'
