A LOCAL AUTHORITY has told the High Court it has no suitable council accommodation for a couple and their five young children.
Longford County Council has brought proceedings to have John Paul Doyle, his wife Frances and their five children removed from an empty council house at 21 Casey Court, Kenagh, Co Longford, which they moved into some weeks ago.
The Council says the family have no permission to reside at the three-bedroom house and want a High Court injunction requiring the Doyles to leave the property.
The family, who the court heard accept they are “in the wrong” in respect of the entering the house, said in a letter to the court that they had “no option” other than to move into the house given the family’s circumstances and health.
Mr Justice Paul Gilligan heard on Tuesday the council does not want to have the family removed from the property in the coming days, but wants to offer it to another family on its housing list.
Following a suggestion by the judge, the matter was adjourned so that the parties could work together to see if alternative accommodation in the private rented sector could be secured for the Doyle family.
Paul Gunning Bl, for the Council, told the court his client currently has more than 1,220 people on its housing list. The house had been offered to a family on the list, but they had turned it down. The house will now be offered to another family, counsel said.
Mr Gunning said the Doyles have been approved for rent allowance, which should help them secure private rented accommodation.
They had been living in private rented accommodation, but had to leave their previous residence when their then landlord decided to take back that house for personal use.
Counsel said that the family had been offered, but refused, emergency accommodation at a hostel. Counsel said his client has no suitable house available for the Doyles and their family.
A three bedroom house is not deemed suitable for a family of seven, the court heard.
In response to the judge, counsel said it was not known when the local authority would be able to provide the family with a suitable house.
The Doyles, who were present in court but did not have any legal representation, said the house was “a mansion” as far as they were concerned and they would happily take it if offered to them.
In a letter to the court they said their children and their own health had suffered and asked the court to “please please help us”.
They accepted they were wrong to move into the house, but saw “no other way out.” They said they would “do anything to put a roof over their children’s heads.”
They also said the Council had not helped them. A woman living on her own had been given a five bedroom house in another part of Longford by the council, which they said was unfair. They also added they are prepared to pay rent and bills if they got a house.
Mr Justice Gilligan said while it was accepted the family were in the wrong, he expressed his concern they could be put out on the street with no where to go. He also said parties involved in cases should not write to judges.
The Judge adjourned the case to a date in May to see if the council could help secure accommodation in the private sector for the family.
In the meantime, the Judge urged the two sides to cooperate with each other.
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