RIGHTS TO land in Rosses Point, Co Sligo, are being claimed by a Church of England vicar and his wife.
Some locals have received solicitors’ letters giving them 28 days to hand over their property. The letters come from representatives of shareholders of the Middleton estate, the original owners of the ground rent on the property, most of whose family left Ireland up to 90 years ago.
Some Rosses Point residents reached a deal where many bought out their ground rent for sums of about £100 after tracing Middleton family members across the globe in the 1970s.
Some of them did not clinch agreement, leaving uncertainty over the ground on which their homes were built in one of the most valuable locations in the northwest.
Now, vicar Guy Chave-Cox and his wife Heather, who claims descent from the Middleton family, are in the area checking what land they believe they have rights to in Rosses Point.
It includes a seaside home where the Yeats brothers, poet WB and painter Jack, holidayed with their Middleton cousins. The dilapidated Elsinore Lodge is now heavily overgrown with ivy.
The vicar and his wife, attached to St Paul’s church, Sticklepath Hill, Barnstaple, Devon, denied demanding that residents surrender disputed property.
However, a number of home-owners received solicitors’ letters in July with 28-day notice from shareholders of the Middleton estate, one of which has been seen by this reporter.
It claimed the homeowner was “wrongfully in possession” of Middleton estate property. It threatened proceedings without further notice if the property was not surrendered.
This means that, with the 28-day notice, proceedings against some householders could be commencing today.
A spokesperson for the solicitor, Pat O’Connor, who has offices in Kiltimagh and Swinford, Co Mayo, refused to discuss the letters or Mr Chave-Cox and his wife.
But the couple denied in Rosses Point on Saturday that they issued instructions that people leave their premises.
Mrs Chave-Cox said: “I have not asked anybody to tell them that. If you have a letter, send it to my solicitor. We haven’t authorised any letter to kick people out.”
She said it was possible several residents who did not sort out title to their land might have a mistaken belief they owned their own ground rent.
When asked whether legal processes were a prospect, Mrs Chave-Cox said: “We are looking to sort out the facts of any situation. That includes selling to some former tenants land that they want to buy. It’s as simple as that.”
She refused to say how many people were approached, adding: “It’s none of your business.”
Mr Chave-Cox said: “You know I am a vicar. Vicars are honest and clear about things. All we want is what’s right and fair and sort things out. Presumably that means people buying up the ground rent.”
Signs have recently appeared on disputed properties, stating the Middleton estate claimed ownership and was excluded by law from the duty of care towards visitors.
Solicitor Joe Carter, who represents a number of people who received legal letters, said the issue was resolved to most people’s satisfaction in the 1970s, and it had been at least 35 years since anybody paid ground rent.
Clarification:
In an article in the edition of August 23rd last, concerning property in Rosses Point, Co Sligo, it was stated that a Church of England vicar, Rev Chave-Cox and his wife were claiming rights to property there through an interest in the Middleton Estate. Revd Guy Chave-Cox has not laid claim to any land in Rosses Point. In fact, it is Mrs Chave-Cox only who has an interest in the Middleton Estate.
It was also stated that a number of home-owners received solicitors' letters containing a 28-day notice to quit their property.
Only one such letter was sent and it was not issued due to any non-payment of ground rent. Solicitors P O'Connor and Son have confirmed that Mr Joe Carter of Howley Carter Co. does not represent the recipient of any 28-day notice letter.
The article also stated that Mrs Chave-Cox was at Rosses Point checking what land the Middleton Estate has rights to. Mrs Chave-Cox has pointed out that she took measurements of buildings in need of repair whilst in the locality on holiday with her family.
The article stated correctly that most of the Middleton family left Ireland up to 90 years ago. Mrs Chave-Cox has pointed out that the majority holding of the estate was in Irish hands less than 20 years ago.
Any distress caused by the errors is regretted.