Friend is trying to bully us out of our mobile home

I would like your point of view on a matter proving very upsetting for me and my husband.

We are both in our eighties and have one son who’s flown the nest. We live in a mobile home close to a farm and we’ve been there 60 years.

Now a friend of the farmer, who has worked round here since he was young, has decided he’d like to build a house on the land we rent.

We cope very well, considering my husband has Parkinson’s disease – but this man (unbeknown to the farmer or our other neighbours) has been trying to move us off the land, despite being our friend for years. He can’t wait for us to weaken with age and illness, so we leave and go into a home.

He’s putting pressure on us and making things difficult by snooping around and telling us we have to go.

He also claims he’s spoken to the council about us.

A Parkinson’s support group came to visit us on another matter – to see how my husband was getting on – and they were happy about how we were managing.

Would it be best to continue to ignore this man? I already feel better having told you.

Coleen says

I’m glad you wrote to me and feel a little unburdened, but now you need to start telling everyone who will listen. Start with the farmer, other neighbours and your son.

This man is bullying you – and the thing about bullies is that they rely on the people they are intimidating to be too afraid to speak up and call it out. Bullies are always cowards at heart, and I’m convinced that as soon as you start making a noise about how this man is harassing you, he’ll scurry back into his lair. Make him aware that you realise he’s trying to take advantage of your age and situation – and be clear that he’s not welcome at your home.

I think people will be queuing up to support you and offer help. You’re already in touch with a Parkinson’s support group, but you can also contact Citizen’s Information (citizensinformation.ie; 0818 07 4000 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm) and Age Action (ageaction.ie; 01 475 6989) for advice.

I’m sure your son or a friend would help you to get in touch with these organisations and find out where you stand legally.

Trust me, this bully won’t like it that everyone knows what he’s been up to, and I don’t think he has a hope of kicking you out. Please let me know how you get on. Good luck.

He wants us off the land so he can build a house on it