A local authority, which planned to let an elderly couple's home to new tenants, has been restrained by the High Court from doing so. Ms Justice Macken heard that Mr Leo and Mrs Mary Moran had been tenants at Ballyogan Close, Carrickmines, Dublin, for 10 years until a fire damaged their home last October.
Mr Richard Keane SC, counsel for the couple, said that to facilitate repairs they granted Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council possession and moved into another house until the work was done. Mr Keane said the couple signed the surrender after being assured by a council official, Ms Wendy Bass, that the move was temporary and they would be "back home" within six months.
The court heard that the Morans, aged 65 and 53, were deeply attached to their home and had carried out improvements. They had now been told they would have to remain in the new house, which was of inferior quality. Ms Justice Macken granted the couple an injunction restraining the council from granting a tenancy to anyone else until further order of the court.