Peter McVerry Trust seeks to have man leave property earmarked for homeless people

The Peter McVerry Trust is seeking to join Johnny Basey, also known as Stephen Bedford, as a named defendant to earlier proceedings in which it got orders requiring that certain people leave the property at 88, Lower Drumcondra Rd, in Dublin. File picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

The Peter McVerry charity is asking the High Court to make a man who has moved into one of its properties earmarked for homeless people subject to an order that he leave before the end of February.

The Peter McVerry Trust, a company limited by guarantee, is seeking to join Johnny Basey, also known as Stephen Bedford, as a named defendant to earlier proceedings in which it got orders requiring that certain people leave the property at 88 Lower Drumcondra Rd in Dublin.

Two other named defendants had agreed to leave by the end of February. The order also applied to "persons unknown" who were also occupying it.

Seeking short service of the proceedings on Friday, Barry Mansfield, for the trust, said Mr Basey had also signed himself as Stephen Bedford in email exchanges between him and the trust solicitors.

Stephen Bedford was jailed last year for 16 months after pleading guilty to driving a car at an anti-immigration protester, counsel said.

Email and notice on door of house

Mr Justice Brian Cregan granted short service and made directions for the serving of papers on Mr Basey/Bedford by email and by affixing a laminated notice to the door of the property.

In an affidavit, trust director Tony O'Brien said the order against the other named and unnamed defendants was made last November.

On January 25, in an email sent at 11.28pm, Mr Basey told the trust solicitors that he was resident of one of the apartments in the property. He kept to himself and "don't interact [with] other people but I heard some people who live in my building talking about having to move out very soon".

He was told an agreement had been made for some people in the building but he did not know what the situation was and sought clarification.

He was told about the November order and about the requirement for all those in occupation to vacate by February 28.

He replied that he was not in a position to leave by that date and he said there seemed to be confusion with other residents as to the situation too.

'Defendants jumping the queue'

Mr O'Brien said the trust is a charity with a mission to provide housing for homeless people but by wrongfully taking possession of this property, the defendants were in effect "jumping the queue" by preventing the trust from providing shelter to those who are genuinely in need.

He was also concerned about the health and welfare of those in occupation in circumstances where he did not know what cooking and sanitary methods they were using. 

He was also particularly conscious of the risk of fire or some other event.

The electricity supply has been disconnected but he is concerned whether the occupants will use alternative means to power and heat the property.