Post by earl on Feb 28, 2008 19:12:14 GMT
FAMINE-ERA law could be used to evict families to make way for a runway extension at City of Derry Airport.
Derry City Council, which owns the airport, has told residents of Doneybrewer Road to leave their homes by this weekend or face eviction.
While some of the 17 families involved have been able to find new accommodation, the majority remain in their homes. Last night Muriel Archibald said she could not vacate her house because she is going into hospital for a hysterectomy today.
In an ironic twist, the law under which the nationalist controlled council could evict the residents is the Land Clauses Consolidation Act 1845.
It was enacted in the first year of the Famine when an estimated 500,000 Irish people were evicted from their lands in an event which has huge emotional connotations for
nationalists.
Derry writer Eamon McCann, who campaigns on behalf of the Doneybrewer residents, said: "I would say it is ironic that Derry City Council should be using a Famine-era law to evict people from their homes in the name of progress."
Mrs Archibald said she was faced with eviction at a time when she should be convalescing for up to eight weeks.
"I don't know if we will have a home when I come out," she said.
"I cannot understand how we can be treated like this."
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Is SF the main player on Derry city council?
Derry City Council, which owns the airport, has told residents of Doneybrewer Road to leave their homes by this weekend or face eviction.
While some of the 17 families involved have been able to find new accommodation, the majority remain in their homes. Last night Muriel Archibald said she could not vacate her house because she is going into hospital for a hysterectomy today.
In an ironic twist, the law under which the nationalist controlled council could evict the residents is the Land Clauses Consolidation Act 1845.
It was enacted in the first year of the Famine when an estimated 500,000 Irish people were evicted from their lands in an event which has huge emotional connotations for
nationalists.
Derry writer Eamon McCann, who campaigns on behalf of the Doneybrewer residents, said: "I would say it is ironic that Derry City Council should be using a Famine-era law to evict people from their homes in the name of progress."
Mrs Archibald said she was faced with eviction at a time when she should be convalescing for up to eight weeks.
"I don't know if we will have a home when I come out," she said.
"I cannot understand how we can be treated like this."
____________________________________________________________________
Is SF the main player on Derry city council?