Mother of four with 'nowhere to go' ordered to move caravan from 'unique' Limerick town

A MOTHER of four who previously refused a four-bedroom house which was offered by the council has been ordered to move her caravan from Rathkeale. 

Christina Harty Kett has been living in the caravan without planning permission at Roche’s Road in the town since the summer of 2024, Newcastle West District Court heard. 

The court heard that Ms Harty Kett lives in “a nice tidy caravan” with four children between the ages of 12 and 18 - one of whom has a disability. Prior to moving to Rathkeale, she lived in private rented accommodation in Charleville, north Cork.

A council official told the court that Ms Harty Kett was first served with a copy of the enforcement order on August 30, 2024 and that the caravan "is still in situ".

Judge Carol Anne Coolican heard the matter has been before the court on 12 separate occasions since the proceedings were first initiated and that the council is anxious to progress matters.

The court was told Ms Harty Kett was offered a four bed council house in Askeaton in 2019 which she refused. In her evidence, the defendant maintained that she wants remain living in Rathkeale with her children.  

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Solicitor Will Leahy - representing Limerick City and County Council - asserted that Ms Harty Kett has been assisted by the council to find housing by way of being offered emergency accommodation in a hotel. She has also been approved for support under the Housing Assistance Payment scheme. 

Mr Leahy also noted that two of Ms Harty Kett’s children could potentially stay with their father in Rathkeale - as the pair already stay with him on occasion. 

However, the mother-of-four asserted that she herself is separated from the father and that she is the primary caregiver of her children. 

Ms Harty Kett pleaded with the court to direct the council to provide her with housing in Rathkeale. She said she has “tried everywhere for accommodation” over the past month but has been unsuccessful.

She further added that she “has nowhere to go” and needs “a home for my children”.

The defendant also raised concerns about how she would bring her children to school if she moves from Rathkeale. 

Judge Coolican said it was not within her power to direct the council to provide her with housing. "I can't do that," she said.

Ms Harty Kett insisted she does not want to be living in a caravan and that she "is not in anybody's way". 

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Addressing the court, solicitor Michael O’Donnell submitted the council should not be allowed to “oust” his client while she is trying to “link up with housing services.” 

He further argued that the council is obligated to provide housing for the family in Rathkeale and that the current situation represented “some failing of the county council”. 

"This is not simply about packing up and going down the road."

In response, Will Leahy said the matter brought before the court “isn’t a housing issue” and that there is currently no council housing in Rathkeale available for Ms Harty Kett to move in to. 

“You don’t jump in the housing list by parking a caravan illegally,” he added. 

Mr Leahy repeatedly came back to the argument that Ms Harty Kett was before the court for refusing to comply with the council’s enforcement order which mandated that she move the caravan. 

Before delivering her verdict, the judge rejected some of the arguments put forward on behalf of the defendant.  “Mr O’Donnell asserts that Rathkeale is a unique town, but the law applies equally to all,” she said.

The judge also noted Ms Harty Kett “accepts that she’s breaking the law”.  

After formally recording a conviction, Judge Coolican ordered Christina Harty Kett to remove the caravan permanently from its current location and outside an area marked on a map that covers a large portion of Rathkeale town. 

Ms. Harty Kett was given three months to comply with the order, and was ordered to make a €500 contribution towards the costs and expenses of the local authority.