An unmarried mother of two, who last week faced eviction from her £100,000 home over a £7,000 debt, has won a three-month reprieve during which she claims she can put her affairs in order.
The Circuit Court president, Mr Justice Smyth, said in Dublin Circuit Civil Court yesterday he believed the scheme of redemption on arrears put to the Irish Permanent Building Society by Ms Niamh O'Donnell, of Whitechurch Park, Ballyboden, Dublin, was reasonable.
Mr Michael Byrne, counsel for Ms O'Donnell, told the court his client was prepared to pay a lump sum of £1,000 immediately with a further £2,000 within a month and the balance to follow. She had been in business and had got into difficulties.
Mr Byrne said Ms O'Donnell had been making her monthly repayments to the society since it had obtained a possession order against her in November 1997. She was now in a situation to clear off the arrears. Mr Don Seligman, counsel for Irish Permanent, said Ms O'Donnell had not made any repayments for 14 months before the society obtained the possession order.