Order made against couple squatting in council house

Judge John Coughlan granted an order to allow Louth County Council (LCC) remove a couple squatting without permission in a Drogheda council house.

Louth County Council took the case against John Stokes and Martina Stokes at last Tuesday’s sitting of Drogheda District Court. The court heard the two defendants were not present but had been served.

Giving evidence to the court, Mary G Reilly, the Acting Administration Officer for Estate Property with Louth County Council said the council own the property in question at 73 Laurence Drive. Asked if the couple have a tenancy agreement for the house she said they do not.

She said it was allocated to a single mother and child in March 2016.

In August 2016 John and Martina Stokes moved into the house. She said it was shuttered at the time and they removed the shutters.

Ms Reilly said council officials visited the site and told the pair they were living at the property illegally. She said they were advised to see their local housing officer.

The court heard John and Martina Stokes are not on the Louth County Council housing list but are on the Meath County Council list.

‘So they just moved in and started squatting?’ Judge John Coughlan asked.

After hearing that that was correct he granted the order in favour of Louth County Council.