Sir, – Congratulations to Justice Michael Peart (Home News, February 27th) for highlighting the outrageous cost of going to court. It denies many people their constitutional right of access to justice, thus favouring the lenders.
I speak for many people who have suffered illegally from banks, receivers and “security” people when they go about repossessing machinery and land, etc. The bank clients are being legally informed to take the perpetrators to court due to wrongful treatment, but they can’t.
The banks treat the court threat with contempt as they know that their client, who they may suddenly put into receivership, has not got, nor can they borrow the massive sum of money needed to go to court. I know of amounts of €50,000 demanded up-front before lawyers will consider taking the case!
It is time that justice and fair play is applied to everyone. Stop today’s practice of one law for the highly paid and a very different law for those of us who have middle to low incomes and cannot make repayments at the same rate as in the boom time.
Meaningful and fair negotiations should prevail and not the bank letter stating “we are not in a position to consider your proposal”, followed by the appointment of a receiver!
Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter has pointed out to me that the law is there to defend these bank victims, but the banks and their employees ignore the law. They know that the unfortunate victimised client cannot pay the astronomical charges of “greedy lawyers” – thus preventing the exercise of their constitutional rights. – Yours, etc,