Sinn Féin to set up anti-eviction campaign group in Cork

SINN Féin will set up anti-eviction campaigning groups across the State, in response to the increasing numbers of evictions from family homes.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, said the events in Strokestown, County Roscommon, in recent days have highlighted the desire of people to fight back against evictions.

The eviction of the McGann family sparked a week of publicity after a video was shared on social media, with many criticising the private security firm for heavy-handed tactics.

The security men were later attacked and a number of people required hospital treatment, while a dog that was with the security men was killed.

Mr Ó Laoghaire said: “The events in Strokestown have struck a chord with people the length and breadth of Ireland. Such callous behaviour, in the lead-up to Christmas, has served as a reminder of the all-too-frequent evictions happening in every parish and county in Ireland.

“It’s time to take a stand for family homes, for renters, and for everyone affected by this government’s housing chaos.

“It is clear that it will require a broad coalition of ordinary people and communities to defeat the alliance of bankers, landlords, and the political establishment.

“That is why Sinn Féin will be on the road from early January, meeting with communities, with a view to setting up anti-eviction campaign groups.

“Enough is enough: it’s time to take a stand to stop evictions.”

The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, addressed the matter last week, saying: “On the video of the eviction, I have seen it. What, of course, I didn’t see was everything.

“Each time you watch a video, you need to bear in mind there are events that happened before the video started recording, there are events that happened after the video recorded, and there were events that weren’t on video.

“I don’t think anyone can say, just from that video, that they have a full understanding of what happened.

“But, certainly, nobody likes to see force being used on anyone unnecessarily. Nobody likes to see evictions happen, particularly in the run-up to Christmas time.”

The McGann family released a statement last week, saying they had been left “shocked” by the ordeal that had been “thrust upon them”. The family also condemned all forms of violence.