Traveller family hold sit-in over halting site
The caravans, situated on an old rubber factory site at Nash’s Boreen in Fairhill, were destroyed as the family attended a relative’s funeral in Ennis.
Martin McDonagh said yesterday he and 10 family members were now sharing a fire-damaged caravan. He called on the council to make provision for electricity and running water for his family.
“It was the first time we all were away in six years, and when we came back two caravans were burnt out and two others had fire and smoke damage and that’s what we are sleeping in now,” he said.
The father of eight said his children have stopped going to school because they wake up in “smelly clothes” and pay to use a local swimming pool to take showers three times a week.
“All the kids were going to school but not for a while now because they are all lying on top of one another, sleeping in one caravan and looking into each others faces, waking up in smelly clothes,” he said.
The McDonagh family have lived on the site for seven years and are seeking secure accommodation on a halting site with electricity and running water. “I never looked for a house because I want to keep my identity as a Traveller.
“I want to live as a Traveller and am entitled to do so — on a halting site — that’s what I asked for and what I was promised,” said Mr McDonagh.
Cork City Council said it could not comment on individual cases but outlined three options open to the McDonagh family: homeless services; the option of permanent housing in standard accommodation; or funding under the caravan loan scheme.
“Families who refuse the option of standard accommodation in council houses or accommodation on existing halting sites and demand a family-specific halting site for them alone must accept the difficulties this imposes on the council,” said a statement.
“Families who place themselves in this position by breaking into and occupying an unauthorised site must be mindful of the limitations this imposes on the City Council in executing its responsibilities under the Housing Provisions legislation,” the statement said.
Mr McDonagh said he could not afford to pay back a loan for a caravan. “To be honest, we can’t afford to be paying, there is money there from the Government provided for Travellers. We are looking for a caravan, not a really dear one, just a simple one that we can live in.”
