The family has spoken out.
The McGann family, whose eviction from a house in Strokestown, Roscommon last week has garnered huge media attention, have issued a statement on Tuesday night.
The eviction, the role of the Gardaí during the eviction, and the following attack on the security personnel who carried out the eviction, have all been at the centre of a national debate.
Tonight’s statement was issued through the office of Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy, who is a friend and former neighbour of the family.
The statement reads:
“Our family has been overwhelmed by the levels of support we have received and we wish to pay special thanks to our neighbours and friends who have greatly helped us during a very traumatic time. We would also like to pay tribute to the people from across the four corners of Ireland whose sympathy and solidarity has been of great assistance in our time of need and to the people who travelled long distances to stand in solidarity with us.
“The forced eviction from our home has left our family shocked by unforeseen events that were thrust upon us. Our ordeal has been further compounded by the inaccurate and ill-informed media coverage of our eviction, and the subsequent events that have occurred.
The statement also addresses the incident which followed the eviction, in which the security personnel at the property were attacked — an incident which left several men in hospital.
“We wish to make clear we condemn all forms of violence and want to see the rule of law upheld but we have also been deeply upset by the use of inflammatory language that has characterised much of the media reportage,” the statement said.
The statement is critical of how Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has handled the aftermath of the eviction. On Tuesday, Varadkar caused a stir in Dáil Éireann with incendiary comments aimed at Pearse Doherty.
“We believe our plight has been exploited by some wishing to further their own narrow agendas and we were particularly disappointed at comments made today by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil. His remarks, we believe, are a deliberate attempt to deflect attention from some of the very serious issues relating to our eviction.
“He has yet to adequately respond to the actions of unidentified security personnel who forcibly, and with considerable violence, removed our family from our home in front of a massive Garda presence that oversaw the eviction nor has he responded to concerns about the legality of the eviction notice.”
According to Carthy, McGanns have asked the Taoiseach to refrain from making comments that further compound their distress and in conclusion to their statement they say their case is with two firms of solicitors who are now acting on their behalf and that matters relating to their eviction will be heard before the courts in due course.
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