Family denied emergency lodging as they ‘don’t have credit card’

A homeless couple and their two children have been unable to secure emergency accommodation because they do not have a credit card, the High Court has heard.

John and Kathleen O'Reilly and their two children had been living in accommodation at a temporary bay at Childers Road Halting Site in Limerick since 2008.

The family, members of the Travelling community, left the site last March due to a number of factors including that the temporary bay had allegedly deteriorated to a state rendering it no longer fit for human habitation.

A nearby horse stable at the site was attracting rats and mice, there were holes in the roof and the floor of the accommodation, and the temporary bay was covered in damp and mould, the court heard.

A fire, caused by an electrical fault, had also damaged the washing facility at the site they had been using.

The family left the site and have been living in a rented caravan at different locations but this was neither suitable nor affordable, the court heard.

They are now homeless and sought emergency accommodation from Limerick City and County Council.

B&B

On March 22nd last the council agreed it would cover the cost of providing emergency accommodation to the family but they have been unable to secure a suitable B&B, it was stated.

Siobhán Phelan SC, for the family, said B&B owners will not take a booking from them because the family do not have a credit card. The family want the council to intervene directly and provide them emergency accommodation, she said.

Ms Phelan said the family has been on the local authorities’ housing list since 2008 and hope to be provided with social housing.

In their High Court judicial review action against the council, the O’Reilly’s are seeking an order compelling the local authority to comply with its decision of March 22nd to provide them with emergency accommodation.

They also seek declarations, including that the failure to provide them with emergency breaches their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. They are also seeking damages.

Permission to bring the action was granted, on an ex-parte basis, by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, who returned the matter to later this month.