Homeless family of seven seek return to Dublin hotel

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

A homeless family of seven brought a High Court challenge on 16 January 2017 seeking return to emergency accommodation at Abberley Court Hotel in Tallaght.

The action was brought by Gareth Phelan and Lisa Murphy, their three children and two other children of Ms Murphy from a previous relationship. The family claimed they were evicted from the hotel on December 22nd and that their accommodation at the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra was unsuitable.

Cormac Ó Dúlacháin SC told the High Court that the family had received no written statement explaining why their accommodation was withdrawn. Mr Phelan said a sock had been placed temporarily on a smoke alarm because it was faulty or repeatedly activated by shower steam, and that he removed it when asked.

The family also sought declarations, including that the withdrawal was irrational and unreasonable and breached constitutional and European Convention rights, as well as damages. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan said the permission application should be made when both sides were present and adjourned it to Friday.