Pregnant woman has to live in her car

A young woman pregnant with her first child says she and her husband have been left with no option but to live in their car after a court order for the removal of their caravan from council land on the southside of Cork city.

Margaret O’Reilly, 22, a member of Travelling community, said she and Nicholas, who were married last November, had to sell their caravan afterwards and have been living in the car for over a week in the Mahon area.

She said while they have been offered just over €610 a month in Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) they have been trying but cannot find affordable accommodation in the private rented sector. She said she now fears for her mental health, for the health of her husband, and the health of their unborn baby.