Coppinger and protesters ordered to end housing ‘occupation’

RQB and receiver granted interim injunction over protesters at Diswellstown Manor site

Ruth Coppinger TD and other Anti Austerity Alliance protesters  on September 22nd, 2015 at Diswellstown Manor, off Porterstown Road, Luttrelstown, Castleknock, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Ruth Coppinger TD and other Anti Austerity Alliance protesters on September 22nd, 2015 at Diswellstown Manor, off Porterstown Road, Luttrelstown, Castleknock, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

Socialist Party TD Ruth Coppinger and a number of others were on Wednesday ordered by the High Court to end an “occupation” of a property at a housing estate under construction in Castleknock, Dublin.

RQB (Diswellstown) Ltd and its receiver, David Carson, of Deloitte, were granted an interim injunction in respect of protesters at the company’s 156-house Diswellstown Manor site, opposite the Castleknock Hotel and Country Club.

Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan heard the protesters included Ms Coppinger and Cllr Matthew Waine, an Anti Austerity Alliance member of Fingal Co Council.

The court ordered the protesters to vacate the site and directed them to not interfere or obstruct Mr Carson, or his agents, from carrying out his duties as receiver to the company. Mr Carson was appointed receiver by Bank of Ireland in 2009.

READ MORE

Judge Heneghan granted the injunctions on an ex-parte basis and adjourned the matter generally with liberty to either side to apply to bring the matter back before the court.

The court heard the protesters, including Ms Coppinger and Mr Waine, some days ago entered a house on the estate as part of a protest aimed at securing the properties for social housing.

They have claimed Nama is building the homes to sell on the open market while many families are in emergency accommodation.

Nama has stated that while the site owner is one of its debtors, it does not own the site, which is in receivership and is being developed by the receiver on behalf of the bank.