Colin Widger aims to stop father selling home he says his mother left to children

A man claiming he was unlawfully evicted from the family home by his estranged father has brought a High Court action to try and stop the house being sold.

Colin Widger claims he was forcibly removed from his home at Whitebarn Road, Churchtown, Co Dublin, after his father Thomas Widger told gardaí his son was trespassing.

In an affidavit, Colin Widger denies trespass and said he had lived at the property all his life with his mother Maeve until her death last year.

He said he is the executor of the will of his late mother who, he claims, left her estate to him and his two siblings.

His father, who was divorced from his mother,  disputes his position as executor, he said.

His father has not lived at the property for decades and was legally barred from their home in 1986, Mr Widger said.

As a result of being “thrown out on the street”, Mr Widger claims he is homeless and destitute and has had to sleep on park benches, in sheds and wherever he can.

He said he was at such a low point that he had found it difficult to approach anyone for help but is currently staying with friends.

Mr Widger said his father had put the house up for sale without his knowledge or consent and is not entitled to do so. He also claims he is being oppressed by his father.

No appearance

Earlier this week, Mr Widger, representing himself, initiated proceedings against his father Thomas Widger, Suva House, Main Street, Maynooth, Co Kildare, and asked Mr Justice Paul Gilligan for orders including one preventing the sale of the house in Churchtown.

A member of the Garda based at Rathfarnham Garda station, who Mr Widger claims was involved in his allegedly unlawful arrest and removal from the house last February, as well as a representative of Gunne estate agents, said to be handling the sale of the property, are notice parties to the proceedings.

When the matter was mentioned yesterday, Mr Justice Gilligan was told Thomas Widger had been served with the proceedings.

There was no appearance by or on behalf of Thomas Widger or the notice parties when the matter was called on.

After saying that he had to be satisfied attempts had been made to serve the parties with notice of the proceedings, the judge adjourned the matter to today.