RESIDENTS in Myshall are locked in a stand-off with council officials over plans to relocate a Bagenalstown family to the local area.
Members of Carlow housing authority attempted to move the family to a rural cottage in Ballaughmore, located between Myshall and Ballon, on Friday but were confronted by protestors at the property.
The family, who are now being put up in the Dolmen Hotel at the expense of the council, are “Bagenalstown’s problem” according to protestors.
“This is a problem in Bagenalstown that’s being dumped in Myshall. The council are not prepared to deal with it and they don’t care. No-one wants these people,” said Myshall resident Michael Kelly.
Some members of the family in question are known to gardaí and have had a number of court appearances.
Speaking about the residents’ reasons for the protest, which resulted in gardaí arriving at the house on Friday, Mr Kelly said “people are in fear”.
“Everyone’s completely concerned. These people have a house. This is a problem they won’t deal with in Carlow. We’ve no problem here and we don’t want one,” said Mr Kelly, who added that the residents are staging a round-the-clock protest on a rota basis.
“We’re here as long as it takes. This is our home and we’ve no intention of leaving,” he added.
According to director of services Seamus O’Connor, the Bagenalstown family have had “issues with respect of house management in Bagenalstown and links to the community”.
He added that the local authority, the HSE and gardaí “felt a change of scene and a rural community might suit them”.
Carlow County Council purchased the house two months ago for “very good value” and has done a number of works in order to accommodate the family.
Mr O’Connor added that it is a “statutory appointment” to rehouse the family and asked “if somebody buys a house in any part of Ireland, who decides who lives where?” He confirmed that the family are currently staying in the Dolmen Hotel as a result of the protests.
“Arrangements were made to fully move them last Friday but it didn’t look safe to move. It was much cheaper for the short-term to stay in the hotel than to put their items back into the house in Bagenalstown and the disruption of that,” added Mr O’Connor.
At yesterday’s (Monday) meeting of Carlow County Council, council officials confirmed that further talks with Myshall residents will take place today (Tuesday), with a view to resolving the matter.