Council application to jail John Paul Doyle adjourned

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Longford County Council’s application to imprison John Paul Doyle for alleged contempt of court orders was adjourned by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan on 28 July 2016. The application was against Mr Doyle only.

In May 2016, the judge ordered Mr Doyle, his wife Frances and their children to vacate a three-bedroom house at Casey Court, Keenagh, Co Longford. The orders were stayed for eight weeks after the court was told the family were not accepting alternative accommodation: a four-bedroomed house at Stonepark, outside Longford.

Paul Gunning, for the council, said the family had failed to leave despite being given eight weeks, and described the committal application as a “last resort”. He said the alternative accommodation remained available and the council had raised the rent allowance ceiling, leaving weekly rent of €42. The report said works, including a fence, had been carried out to address the family’s safety concerns.

Mr Doyle, who was unrepresented but said he was getting a solicitor and barrister, said the offered house was unsuitable, citing fumes from a nearby garage. The court heard that one child had a heart condition and that a doctor’s letter stated the children also suffered from asthma and respiratory infections. Mr Doyle also said the council had stopped talking to him.

The judge said jailing Mr Doyle would serve no purpose and hoped an intermediary could help resolve the dispute. He warned that the family could not remain in the Keenagh house because an order to vacate already existed. The matter was to be mentioned again in six weeks, when he expected a resolution. He sympathised with the council, noting its housing list exceeded 1,200 people and it wanted to offer the house to another family.