Group prevents sheriff from entering man’s apartment

A man who says he has “substantial arrears” on a €220,000 mortgage he took out six years ago yesterday remained in his home after the sheriff for Louth was prevented from entering the apartment.

Eugene Dooley, 35, a quantity surveyor, said he took out a 30-year mortgage on the property on Chapel St, Dundalk, with Permanent TSB.

After the sheriff, Mairead Ahern, left yesterday, he said he had an appointment to discuss his mortgage situation with the bank this month and that he would suggest keeping up his repayments but at a lower amount than at the start of the mortgage term.

“This is my home, I am in negative equity, I don’t think it would be worth €80,000 now.”

He helped to found the group the Anti-Eviction Task Force in Dundalk six weeks ago.

Supporters of Mr Dooley yesterday filmed Ms Ahern at the apartment.

At the bottom of steps just inside the front door that led down to the hall, she was met by a wall of men who walked towards her and then blocked her from getting in to Mr Dooley.

Ms Ahern left but said she would be returning.

Mr Dooley said he had not been represented in court during the proceedings against him and he had been unable to go to court when the order was being made to evict him.

He said that when he signed the contract for his home he was “unaware” of what he was signing and that his solicitor was not present.

He said that someone would constantly be at his apartment in anticipation of the sheriff’s return but said the group only supported “peaceful protests”.