Banks seek 26 repossessions at circuit court

JUDGE HEAR SP LIGHT OF THOSE IN MORTGAGE ARREARS

THE harsh reality of Ireland’s housing boom-to-bust was very evident in Wexford last week as financial institutions came to court with over two dozen applications for repossessions.

The majority of the 26 applications before Judge Alice Doyle at Wexford Circuit Civil Court last Tuesday involved family homes.

Most of the respondents were in court and most were representing themselves, while the financial institutions were represented by a barrister, solicitor, or both.

As each case was called, the court heard details of at times substantial mortgage arrears, with each respondent outlining their plight and efforts to reach agreement.

Through the morning and early afternoon, adjournments were sought as the court was told time and again of the struggles of debtors to get their financial affairs in order.

Many said they were in negotiations with their lenders, with some informing the court they were unable to get any response from financial institution as they tried to reach agreement on mortgage arrears.

One respondent said that they are awaiting a High Court hearing on another matter, after which they expect to clear their mortgage.

Another, whose mortgage balance of €286,000 is now more than the mortgage originally granted, told the court they were trying to deal with total arrears of €60,000.

Judge Doyle informed another respondent that he was coming to the end of the line, having stopped engaging with MABS, but he was allowed an adjournment to the next Circuit Court sessions to allow him time to re- engage.

Another respondent was granted an adjournment through his solicitor when the court was told he had an appointment with a cardiologist, while in another action a mother in her eighties sought an ejectment order against a son in his fifties, which was adjourned to November for hearing.

Days such as this are not uncommon at Wexford Circuit Civil Court, with applications for repossessions taking over much of the opening day of each sitting.

No repossessions were granted last Tuesday. A number of cases were adjourned back to the County Registrar’s List with others adjourned to November for further hearing.