Failure to house family is pathetic, says solicitor

LIMERICK City Council has been told to redouble efforts to find a permanent house for a mother and her six children who have been roaming the streets for the past three years.

Solicitor for the family, Ted McCarthy told Limerick District Court yesterday he was taking the case to the High Court to force the council to house the family.

“It is a sad indictment and pathetic on the part of the local authority that they cannot provide a permanent home for this family after three years,” said Mr McCarthy.

The court heard that two members of the family, a 14-year-old boy and his 16-year-old sister have been remanded in detention centres facing a number of serious charges over a period of time including public order and road traffic offences and larceny.

Judge O’Donnell said the shortage of suitable accommodation was a serious issue.

“The issue that has come up in this particular case over a considerable period is the mother of these children has been effectively homeless and has been living in various accommodations including hotels, motels and B&Bs with monies from the Mid-Western Health Board.”

Caroline Curley, housing officer, Limerick City Council, told the court this was a very difficult case because of the history of the family and alleged anti-social issues.

The mother and family was previously living in a corporation house, but voluntarily left to go to England in September, 2000. When she returned to Limerick in May, 2001, she was put up in B&Bs.

“We looked at other possibilities and since the city council has set up a homeless unit in the city last September, resettlement workers and other agencies are trying to find accommodation for the family concerned.

“We are spending more resources in trying to solve this problem than any other council tenant. We were endeavouring no later than Thursday to get a house but when the name was mentioned the landlord would not take in the family,” said Ms Curley.

The mother of six told the court two of her children, aged 11 and 12, had to leave the B&B every morning and go into the city centre to eat.

After hearing the evidence, Judge O’Donnell said that this matter needs a solution rapidly.

“I am very concerned that the issue of housing has become such an integral part of this case and there is the potential of the situation dramatically worsening if suitable accommodation is not found quickly.”

Mr McCarthy claimed the failure of the council to find a house for this family was “absolutely pathetic”.

“If the council can’t house the family in the desperate position they are in after three years, then there is no point in having the council there in the first place,” said Mr McCarthy.

Judge O’Donnell adjourned the case to Tuesday, May 13, in the hope the council and other agencies will find suitable accommodation.