Westmeath land league want 3fs
A new organisation has been established to help the hundreds of Westmeath families who face eviction from their homes to “stand up for their rights”.
The Westmeath Land League was launched last Saturday afternoon in the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar in front of a crowd of 60.
According to Finbar Markey, one of the founders of the modern incarnation of the Land League movement, the organisation has similar aims to its 19th century predecssor including a version of the famous “Three Fs” for the 50,000 homowners currently before the court and the other 50,000 that will be in the coming months.
The Land League wants a “fair mortgage”, which the organisation says could be achieved if “everyone” got a mortgage write down of 60%. They also want “freedom of sale” giving homeowners the right to sell their homes rather than the buyer chosen by the bank, and “fixity of occupation” meaning that people “cannot be evicted” once they have made a “reasonable effort”to meet their debt, while still being able to mainatin a resonable lifestyle.
“Like a knife”, Mr Markey said that the Westmeath Land League will have a “soft side” and a “hard side”.
The “soft side” includes the establishment of day centres and clinics where members of the public can get free advice, as well as attending repossession hearings in court to offer counsel there. The “hard side” includes boycotting and “shaming” businesses that co-operate with banks in the selling of distressed homes, banks or farms.
One of the founders of Westmeath Land League, Mary Walshe, said that since the crash people had been “bled dry” and that banks had “sucked the last drop of life” out of many homeowners.
“A home is not just bricks and mortar. It’s where your family grow and are nurtured. The family unit is being undermined”. As a society we are “doomed to disaster, unless we stop the rot”, she said.
Mullingar based campaigner Dermot Murphy told those in attendance that the most feared man in Ireland today is the postman, because of the correspondance he delivers from financial institutions.
While a large number of people facing eviction don’t appear in court for their hearing, Mr Murphy said that by simply saying that you are fighting the case you can remain in your home for a significant period. He added that at a recent hearing in Mullingar, 60 repossession cases were before the court but due to the presence of 12 campaigners all of the cases were suspended.
“All you have to say is I have a defence, say something.”