Group agrees to vacate occupied house
Hansfield Investments Ltd, which is developing a scheme of houses near Ongar, Dublin 15, sought an injunction compelling Ms Coppinger and all other persons involved in the protest to vacate a property at Barnwell Lawn in the scheme, which had been occupied since the weekend.
The developer, represented by Eoghan Cole, said the protesters had no right to be there and were trespassing. The protest, the court heard, was part of a campaign to shame the Government to deal with the plight of families who have been made homeless, many of whom have been put up in temporary accommodation.
Yesterday, Ms Coppinger, after discussions with other protesters, several of whom the court heard have nowhere to go, said it had been agreed to vacate the property and bring the protest to an end.
The Socialist Party TD said the group felt they had taken this particular protest, which she said was at all times peaceful, “as far as they could.” They would continue to highlight the homeless problem by other means.
The property would also be vacated the court also heard. The action came before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, who welcomed the protesters’ decision to end the occupation.
As an undertaking had been given there was no need for the court to make any orders against the TD or the protesters, the judge said.
The court also heard from another protester, Amy Brennan, a mother of two young children who has been homeless for several months after her landlord raised the rent to a level she could not afford.
She is currently staying at emergency accommodation and said she was disappointed at Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s replies to questions about homelessness when she and others in the same situation attended the Dáil last week.
During the proceedings the judge told Ms Coppinger he was well aware from other cases that have come before the court about the homeless situation, and appreciated the plight of many of the people she represents.
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