Charity founder at a loss to explain refusal to pay rent
RURAL Resettlement Ireland founder Jim Connolly provided a statement to Kilrush District Court when his charity moved to recover arrears from Ms Wynne.
He told the court the decision was the most difficult one of his life since he had spent years trying to keep rural Ireland alive by helping families to relocate.
The following are some extracts:
‘I share what I believe to be the premise of Irish society in general that the right to a house or equivalent shelter is a human right.
‘However, the fundamental question here today is whether that right extends to the provision of a completely free house at the expense of the taxpayer to all irrespective of their means.
‘In the case of the family at the centre of this case today, I have to say as founder and chairman of RRI that their view on paying rent is unique in my experience.
Based on information provided by the family themselves they have an income from the State and are not destitute; they appear to be able to run a car, pay tax and insurance, pay at the pump for fuel, pay for groceries and utility bills and appear to look after their family in every respect, but when it comes to paying rent to this housing charity their virtual refusal to do so is beyond my comprehension.
‘To sum up what we have is a family wholly supported by the taxpayer living virtually rent-free in a brand new rural house also 100% funded by the taxpayer.’