Travellers ordered back to rat-infested site
Francie Doherty and his family vacated the site last month after their mobile home became infested with rats, forcing them to sleep in the back of their van.
With temperatures plummeting, they got a caravan from a relative and, since then, have been parked on a main road near Ennis.
In a letter, the council warned the family that they were parked illegally. They were told to “cease the unauthorised occupation at this location” and to re-occupy their mobile home at Ballaghboy.
The council further advised they should ensure their mobile home was properly sealed and all refuse bins properly fastened, as advised by the pest control company that visited the site.
Mr Doherty said he did not want to go back to the emergency halting site, where he and his family have been living for the past five years. He claimed the mobile home had holes in the side and was uninhabitable.
“I just want a house for my kids. They have no proper beds — I am trying to keep the caravan as warm as possible but, in this cold weather, it is almost impossible.
“The council want us to go back to a mobile home, with holes in its sides, and on an infested site.”
Mr Doherty said he has been on the council housing list for eight years. He has been trying to rent private accommodation but once home owners realise he is a Traveller he cannot secure a house to rent.
Another option for the Doherty’s would be to take a place on a group housing scheme especially built for Travellers and where trouble can often break out between different traveller families.
“I’d prefer to stay on the side of the road than go into one of those places,” Mr Doherty said. “There are family feuds and they are not safe.”
Mr Doherty maintains the council have available houses but the council will not allocate his family one. He has tried to make appointments with senior management but to no avail, so far.
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