Derry man supported by housing campaigners

Activists and supporters from Community Action Tenants Union (CATU Ireland) held a vigil in Derry City centre in support of local man, Feargal O’Donnell.

The action took place outside the Housing Executive office in Derry’s Waterloo Place on Monday, with CATU calling on “those with the authority to do so to find a resolution allowing Feargal to remain in his family home indefinitely”.

CATU Ireland is a union for communities and tenants - renters, council tenants, mortgage holders and people in emergency and precarious living situations.

It is advocating for Mr O’Donnell, who was told by the Housing Executive on November 6, he would have to hand back his house keys on Monday, December 4 - the first day of ‘Homelessness Awareness Week’.

CATU claimed  the Housing Executive was going to evict Mr O’Donnell from his family home of over forty years, on that date.
At the vigil, members of the public were asked to sign a letter in support of Feargal O’Donnell, which was later handed into Housing Executive staff.

The letter, which outlined Feargal O’Donnell’s case in great detail said: “Our member has been pushed into a horrendous situation due to the bureaucratic and daunting process of a succession attempt.

“Sadly, but all too common, the right to a home has now turned into a competition. We appreciate there is exceptional pressure on the Housing Executive. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the most vulnerable in our society to be housed.

“In Feargal’s case, he has had to fight for a succession request for his mother’s home, which he and his daughter Eileen] have faced alone for the previous three and a half years. We cannot express enough the detrimental impact this has had on Feargal’s physical and mental health.

“Feargal has been informed previously that he doesn’t meet the ‘exceptional circumstances’ required for a succession attempt. This is despite him having a number of debilitating health conditions which require constant medical appointments, such as high blood pressure, asthma, COPD, epilepsy, anxiety and depression, serious difficulty with sleep, newly diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, and is currently undergoing more medical investigations following abnormal blood test results.”

Mr O’Donnell has evidenced his medical conditions in letters written by his doctors, psychologist, and support team.

He is currently having more medical investigations into the potential damage to a gland in his brain.

CATU added: “Feargal’s high blood pressure only came about after the attempts to evict him. Last September, an ambulance was called to take Feargal to A&E after the stress of being evicted took its toll and he attempted to take his own life.

“While at times during these last three and a half years, he has been unable to attend crucial appointments. Feargal cared for both of his parents in the family home, which he dedicated much of his life to being there for them, caring for his mother until her death.

“Feargal attends weekly meetings with ARC Fitness and addiction services at Woodlea House, where he receives a monthly opioid-blocker injection, since his recovery from addictions.

“He has become a positive influence on others and spoke at a number of public engagements to help with addiction, including local schools. This situation has plunged Feargal into a dark place.

“To remove Feargal from his home and community would have existential consequences, in his own words it would be ‘a death sentence,’”

According to CATU, the Housing Executive is justifying Feargal’s eviction because he “intentionally” left another property.

The CATU letter said: “This decision was so that he could return a property to the NIHE in a highly sought after area.

“This decision also shows he was committed to returning to the family home as a permanent resident, and attempting to hold onto the [other] residency at the same time was not viable.

“Giving up his property following the death of his mother was an action he believed would help further his ability to return to Little Diamond; to the family home of 40 years, where he could finally prioritise his own health.”

CATU said that according to Housing Executive rules, a carer who was living with the deceased for a time to care for them and for that reason sold a dwelling or gave up a tenancy or licence in relation to a dwelling, may be given tenancy succession.

Mr O’Donnell said he had no  recollection of his patch manager clearly explaining the succession rules. 

CATU added: “We believe it is completely reasonable and justifiable for CATU to demand that a resolution is found for Feargal to remain in his family home indefinitely. No-one should be faced with this position, let alone a very vulnerable person.

“We are under no illusion that this may be ignored until after Christmas, which would be another cruelty in itself. The threat of homelessness at any time is of course unacceptable, but for it to be prolonged over the winter holiday season - when office hours are closed - would bring nothing but despair to a family when they should be feeling the security and stability of a home for Feargal for Christmas.”

Cllr Gary Donnelly who was present at Monday’s vigil said he would use whatever means he could with Mr O’Donnell, the Housing Executive and CATU to find a resolution.

“We don’t want to see anybody ending up on the street and being homeless,” he added.

Cllr Shaun Harkin was also in attendance in support of Mr O’Donnell.

He said: “We know the Housing Executive is under massive pressure. We know housing staff bend over backwards to help people and it is very, very difficult for them and there are rules around these things and we just want to see it resolved.

“We would like Feargal to be able to stay in his house and we know he and his family members right now are very, very worried about what is going to happen and that kind of worry is terrible for people.

“I think the number of people here today shows you that people understand what Feargal is dealing with and I think everybody wants to get this resolved.”

A Housing Executive spokesperson said: “A number of people attended our offices today (Monday, December 18, 2023) to address an issue of succession for a property in our care.

“They presented us with additional information which we have agreed to examine.”