About 20 people who faced eviction before Christmas from a block of flats in Dublin have been given a reprieve and will be able to stay in their homes until the new year.
The last remaining tenants of 14 units in Lansdowne Apartments, a three-building flats complex at Drimnagh, have been fighting a rearguard campaign against eviction notices served by the owner, Mr Thomas Quinn, since late last year. They have vowed to continue their campaign.
The tenants, who include five young families, have exhausted all legal avenues, and yesterday Ms Anne Marie Brady expected the Dublin County Sheriff to come calling at 10.15 a.m.
In preparation for the eviction, the residents had mounted a picket and alerted the media. By lunchtime it was clear the eviction was not going to happen, and Mr Quinn's letting agent, Mr Nigel Barrett, said that in consultation with the Sherif Mr Quinn had decided to postpone the evictions until January.
Asked why Mr Quinn wanted all the tenants out of the buildings, Mr Barrett said the flats were old and in bad repair. He said Mr Quinn's plans were "fluid" at this stage.
Although welcoming the decision, the residents said it offered only temporary respite. "This has solved the problem for Christmas, but I still have to face being homeless for the new year. We are staying here because we have no option," Ms Brady said.
Another resident, Mr Brendan O'Neill, said they wanted Dublin Corporation to buy the buildings, with a compulsory purchase order if necessary. These hopes appear ill founded, however. Mr Brendan Kenny, principal officer for housing and community services with the corporation, said it had been in negotiation with Mr Quinn. Although very interested in purchasing the buildings it was not at all interested in doing it with tenants in situ as they would effectively be jumping its extensive waiting list for accommodation in the area.
Mr O'Neill rejected this. "If the corporation bought the complex it would serve the interests of hundreds of other people who could be accommodated here. Housing is a right," he said