The Housing Action Campaign has vowed to maintain a vigil outside a privately-owned flats complex in Dublin "for however long it takes" to prevent any of its remaining tenants being evicted.
Equipped with several mobile phones and at least one video camera, HAC members and supporters started picketing the entrance to St Ultan's flats on Charlemont Street yesterday morning, when a man was due to have been evicted.
Mr Karl Byrne, who is in his 40s, had been served notice by O'Mahonys, a development company, to vacate his flat in one of the two blocks on the site. Most of the other flats are already vacant and have had their doors boarded up.
His elderly neighbour, Ms Essie Kealing (76), is facing an uncertain future even though she has a life tenancy. Because she is virtually housebound, she relies on Mr Byrne to get her messages and walk her dog, a Jack Russell terrier.
Although there have been numerous break-ins at the complex, Ms Kealing said she was not afraid, pointing to the dog as her security. She said she is determined to continue living in St Ultan's, despite several offers from the developers.
"I couldn't move into one of those private flats because they have rules about not keeping pets, and there's no way I'm going to have George (the dog) put down. I've been living here for nearly 40 years and this is where I intend to stay."
She recalled that St Ultan's - or Teach Ultain - was built by the adjoining hospital of the same name. In the 1970s the complex was taken over by the Eastern Health Board, but sold subsequently to an English company, Boston Manor.
After an eight-year rent strike in protest at its treatment of the tenants, Ms Kealing won a life tenancy at a rent of £2.38 per week. Another elderly woman who had secured a similar deal died last month after a heart attack.
The current owners want to secure vacant possession of all 33 flats so that the site can be redeveloped. No planning application has been lodged yet.
Mr Joe Carolan, of the Socialist Workers' Party, said the presence of the picket - which is being supported by residents of Dublin Corporation's Tom Kelly Flats next door - had deterred the owners from seeking to enforce the eviction of Mr Byrne yesterday.
The picketers, all carrying HAC placards, were also visited by Mr John Gormley TD and Ms Patricia McKenna MEP, of the Green Party. Sinn Fein members are also active in opposing the eviction.
Ms Grace Lally, secretary of the HAC, appealed to newly-elected city councillors to honour the promises they made to deal with the housing crisis by persuading Dublin Corporation to acquire St Ultan's by compulsory purchase order, if necessary.
Attempts to contact the owners of St Ultan's yesterday were unsuccessful.
