20 September 2002

---

Planned Curragh evictions a slap in the face - O Snodaigh

Sinn Fein spokesperson on Defence Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called the Defence Department's decision to forcibly evict 54 families living at the Curragh military base a ``slap in the face''. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said:

``The evictees are retired soldiers and widows. I am advised that some have lived in this housing for twenty years. The Department of Defense now says that these families do not have the legal right to occupy the housing. Regardless of whether this is the case, the fact remains that, especially after years of service to this state, they have the moral right to occupy these dwellings.

``These planned evictions are callous in the extreme, and I would call on the Minister to reverse the Department's decision. If the military have plans that genuinely require these houses for another legitimate purpose, I believe that they should make suitable alternative arrangements for these families, in consultation with them, and seek their consent. Forced eviction is not the appropriate remedy here.

``If it is true that the military plan only to demolish these houses, that makes the Department's decision even more unacceptable. The Minister must also come clean as to the real plans for these dwellings.''

---

Sinn Fein Press Office, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Tel: +353-1-8726100 and +353-1-8726839   ·   Fax +353-1-8733074
E-mail: sinnfein@irlnet.com   ·   Website: http://www.sinnfein.org

---

Sinn Fein   ·   Sinn Fein Documents

---