By Ronan Casey
Despite the best efforts of hard-pressed young homeowners to try and resolve their financial affairs to remain in their homes, the march of banks to repossess homes in Mullingar carries on regardless, it seems, with upwards of 50 cases before the Registrar’s Court on Monday.
At the monthly Registrar’s Court, held this week in Mullingar, shocking evidence of the push by financial institutions to repossess houses was evident in the case of a local couple who have been to ‘hell and back’ over the past few years, while always maintaining payments to the bank.
The court heard that no matter what life threw at them in recent years – job losses and even death – the husband and wife tried desperately to hold onto their family home. It was one of 52 houses up for repossession on Monday at a court which has sought well over 300 repossessions in Westmeath since October last year, mainly from young families.
The couple (who cannot be identified for legal reasons) took a mortgage of €275,000 from Permanent TSB, formerly Irish Life and Permanent TSB, in “the good times” but started to run into difficulty in the autumn of 2008.
The wife outlined how her husband was made redundant, which put them under severe pressure. But then, a more serious, double blow: The woman lost her job and then a baby she was carrying.
Surviving on a small social welfare payment, out of work and mourning the loss of a young life, the couple managed to pay €200 per month to TSB, scrimping and saving to at least contribute to their monthly mortgage repayment of just over €1,300. However, the arrears started to build up and TSB moved in.
EVERYTHING TO BANK
Having sold family land, they managed to pay back €25,000 to try and keep the financial institution at bay. They are still maintaining regular payments and her husband is now back in full time work, “and giving every cent back to the bank.” In fact, for fear of missing a day’s wages, her husband could not accompany his wife to court.
But their best efforts were seemingly not enough as TSB were pushing for repossession, informing the couple in August last year that they were seeking one. On Monday, the Court heard arrears are now just over €50,000.
“We want to pay, we want to come to some agreement with the bank to pay, instead of this,” the woman appealed to the court. “We’re the kind of people who want to work this out, we don’t want to lose our home.”
The woman defended herself and, unable to afford legal aid or professional help, she was aided and advised by the Westmeath Land League, a branch of the National Land League. Arriving to court not knowing where to turn, it was only when she was approached by them did she realise she had some help.
The court heard from Barrister Mrs Martin on behalf of TSB and Belgard Solicitors that the couple were classified as “non co-operative” in 2013. She said they had not filled out financial statements.
The woman was aghast at this, telling the court this was not correct.
“We went to TSB. We sat with them and filled out forms and completed a financial statement. We co-operated as best we could… They even offered us a split mortgage,” she said.
But Ms Martin pushed for a repossession, and suggested to the County Registrar, Mrs Elizabeth Sharkey, that she grant an order for repossession and give the couple a nine month stay, meaning they could live there for that time, paying back what they can. She argued this would ‘freeze’ costs associated with the case, including legal ones.
The woman appealed for an adjournment.
Mrs Sharkey said she appreciated where the woman was coming from, but monies were still due. She said she could not give a long adjournment, and could only adjourn it to July.
But she said the repossession order may well be granted that day. “I can’t grant you another day,” she warned. “But we will give you some time.”
She informed the woman to do an updated financial statement for TSB in the next four weeks.
“Will I go to the bank directly or will they come to me?” the woman asked.
“You go to them,” Mrs Sharkey replied.
LAND LEAGUE VIEW
Afterwards, Westmeath Land League founder member Dermot Murphy, Mullingar vowed that they will not allow the young woman’s home to be taken. She had been in tears talking to them, because they offered to help. They were determined not to allow her home to be taken.
He said all those householders facing repossession should attend the court, not stay away, and should fight to hold on to their homes. Out of 52 people, only four or five turned up on Monday.