The family at the centre of the Strokestown eviction drama have criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and accused him of failing to adequately respond to their ordeal.
Brothers Anthony and David McGann and their sister Geraldine were evicted from their home at Falsk, Strokestown on Tuesday, 11th of December. The highly controversial eviction was carried out by members of a security firm acting on behalf of KBC Bank. Five days after the eviction, a number of security personnel at the house were attacked by a group of men. Three security men were hospitalised as a result of that incident.
The McGann family, who returned to the house on Monday evening, have spoken to the media for the first time since last week’s violent incidents.
They said: “Our family has been overwhelmed by the levels of support we have received and we wish to pay special thanks to our neighbours and friends who have greatly helped us during a very traumatic time”.
The McGann family condemned “all forms of violence” and say that they want to see the rule of law upheld. “Shocked” by recent events, they say that their ordeal has been compounded by inaccurate and ill-informed media coverage of the eviction, and of the subsequent events that have occurred.
The family said they were particularly disappointed at comments made by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil on Tuesday.
“His remarks, we believe, are a deliberate attempt to deflect attention from some of the very serious issues relating to our eviction. He has yet to adequately respond to the actions of unidentified security personnel who forcibly, and with considerable violence, removed our family from our home in front of a massive Garda presence that oversaw the eviction, nor has he responded to concerns about the legality of the eviction notice”.
The McGanns have asked the Taoiseach to refrain from making comments that further compound their distress.
In a statement issued through Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy, they say that matters relating to their eviction will be heard before the courts in due course. Appealing for their privacy to be respected, the McGann family say they will be making no further comments for fear of prejudicing future legal proceedings.
