Anti-eviction group stages protest as court hears 30 repossession claims

An anti-eviction group protested outside the now monthly Possession and Well Charging Court in Tralee yesterday.

At the start of the court, which listed 30 claims by financial institutions, a representative of the Solutions to Evictions group handed a letter to the county registrar who is the judge in these courts.

Most people called before the county registrar’s courts in many counties are not represented, the letter stated.

Outside the group held up pictures of 19th century evictions, and posters that read: “Eviction is not just a historical tragedy, it’s becoming a familiar scene in Ireland again.”

A couple from Cork and an Englishwoman consulted with Brian McCarthy, a lay litigant. The group has been involved in preventing the eviction of a family in Kanturk, Co Cork, Mr McCarthy said, and wanted people under the threat of losing their home to contact them.

In court, Padraig Burke, the Kerry registrar, said it was important that people engage with their banks.

Last October, Mr Burke ordered that stress tests from the banks and other material to do with the granting of mortgages in the first place be handed into court. He also told solicitors representing institutions they must be able to tell him whether the houses are family homes or investment properties.

Whereas previously there was no engagement between up to 35 parties at one court, the majority of the 30 cases yesterday were in discussion.

Most were adjourned by consent. However, a small number were put back by Mr Burke because it was not known if the property was a primary residence.

Of the 30 applications for repossession, 23 were by Ulster Bank. The others were by Anglo Irish, KBC Bank Ireland, Bank of Ireland, and IBRC.