14 LIMERICK FAMILIES FACE EVICTION
UP to 14 Limerick city families say they are facing eviction after their block of apartments was sold to a pension fund.
On Good Friday, residents of the two-bedroom apartments at Fisherman’s Quay at Grove Island received notices informing them they must ‘vacate and give up possession of the dwelling’ since the apartments are being put up for sale.
They have vowed to fight the evictions which are being carried out by Munster Pensioner Trustees Limited. This pension fund bought a number of properties in the complex out of receivership earlier this year. Local Independent councillor John Gilligan said while the fund’s action is legal, ‘it’s almost certainly immoral’.
Alan McCarthy, who lives with his only son Daniel, 19, in one of the apartments, said when he got the notice he ‘couldn’t stop being sick’.
‘My whole life has been turned upside down,’ said Alan who pays €550 a month in rent and has lived in the apartment for over three years. He said: ‘Someone is trying to make a fast buck at our expense.’
The Property Price Register currently lists two apartments as sold at Fisherman’s Quay.
One sold for €111,000, the other €89,300 – both in the last month. A number of other apartments in the complex are on the market from €100,000, while one unit was recently listed for rent at €900 per month.
Ryan Mowat, 20, has lived in the complex for five years with his father Andy. He said: ‘To get a letter telling us to pack up and go is not right.’
MPTL referred queries to the management firm Kersten Mehl Property Management. Its boss Kersten Mehl said: ‘I received instructions to issue these notices... as the landlord wished to sell them.’
He also said the number is closer to eight, as opposed to 14.