Life after Debt supporters rally to Sherlock’s cause

Supporters from all over the country have rallied to the cause of a Co Limerick man who has defied an eviction order by staying barricaded in his home for more than 70 days.

Companies have donated a log cabin and a security hut so that supporters standing guard at Seamus Sherlock’s home in Feohanagh can sleep and watch in shifts.

One backer donated eight two-way radios to raise the alert if the sheriff comes, while other companies offered heaters and even a generator to supply power to the night guard.

Neighbours and friends have been bringing hampers of food and people Seamus says he never met before have turned up to stand with him.

The father of five was served with an order to vacate and hand his keys back to the Bank of Scotland on Aug 17.

As word spread that Mr Sherlock, who founded the Life After Debt group, was making a stand, “people started arriving. Some were people I had advised on how to deal with the banks or what to do in court when they got into difficulties. Others were people who just heard what I was doing and wanted to show support.”

Mr Sherlock got into financial trouble six years ago when an order closed the bogland from which he had been supplying turf.

He has not gone further than his own gate since the barricades were rolled into place in August.

“I won’t give up, and I would urge other people to do the same,” he said. “There are too many people have ended up in the river because of debt.”

When contacted, a spokesperson said that the bank cannot comment on individual cases.