WE WANT OUT
TRAVELLERS WHO HAVE LIVED AT HALTING SITE FOR 30 YEARS WANT OUT
CONNAUGHTON Road car park has been their home for decades, but the McGinley family say they have never wanted to be there.
The family say they are more than willing to leave the town centre car park, if Sligo County Council can supply them with a suitable site or suitable homes.
The McGinleys are currently living in difficult conditions with no hot water and poor bathroom facilities at the site.
The car park is cramped and the families are concerned for the safety of their children. Sligo County Council say it is engaging with the McGinley family and their legal representatives to find a solution, but the family feel as though their needs are being ignored.
“We never wanted to be here in the first place,” Barney McGinley told The Sligo Champion during our visit last week.
IT’S been their home for 34 years, but the McGinley family on Connaughton Road say they don’t want to be there.
The car park is home to four generations of McGinleys and has been the subject of much controversy over the years.
Most recently, a rope was placed across the entrance to the car- park, but the family claim it was placed there to protect the safety of the young children living in the car park.
Legal representatives for the McGinleys, Morgan Coleman ( Solicitor) and Pat O’Sullivan ( Barrister) have been engaging with Sligo County Council with a view to finding a solution.
“The McGinleys could assert their rights of ownership at this time. They are living in very difficult conditions,” explained Mr. Coleman, Solicitor.
“The family has expanded and outgrown the site. This leads to issues with safety, health and welfare.”
The rope at the entrance to Connaughton Road car park was removed last week, but Mr Coleman says it was there for a reason.
The family say there have been a few near misses with children leaving the car park in recent months.
He added that both sides are willing to reach a solution, but they must respect each other’s side of the story.
“For the protection of their children, the McGinleys took measures to protect their children in the form of a rope at the entrance of the car park.
“They have agreed to take down the barrier but they feel as though the County Council is trying to force them to accept alternative accommodation without proper engagement. This could heighten tensions.
“Every stakeholder has a part to play in finding a solution. We can’t force a solution, there is an appetite there from both sides to reach an agreement.
“There is a high level of distrust between both parties, and there is a perception from the McGinleys that they are being discriminated against,” he added.
One visit to the car park shows just how cramped and poor the conditions are for the families living on Connaughton Road.
For Dennis McGinley and his wife Cheryl, the situation is extremely stressful.
With seven children living in a caravan with dimensions of 17.5ft x 4.5ft, there is not exactly much room to manoeuvre.
No air conditioning meant that the caravan was unbearably hot during last week’s hot weather.
Space is so limited that children getting ready for school in the mornings must get up first and get dressed and eat breakfast while the others stay in bed - simply because there is not enough room for everyone to be up at the one time.
They sometimes go to the toilet behind the caravan as the units at the other end of the car park are too busy, and it would be dangerous at night for children.
“We want to leave. I’d go into any house this minute if I was offered one. Even a site to ourselves where we could all go together. We’re not going to be pushed out tomorrow because this is our home. We’re treated worse than second class citizens, they think less of us. In our eyes we can get on with everyone,” Dennis told The Sligo Champion.
“People on the radio say ‘ well why don’t they get up and leave?, we don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Dennis and Cheryl have been on the housing list for years now, but feel as though they are being ignored. It’s a busy part of town with a constant flow of traffic going by, and the noise and fumes are impacting on the health of the children, the McGinleys feel.
“Our needs should overrule objections from people. The objections suit the council. We have nowhere to go. Nobody wants to be here,” said Cheryl.
“People say that we love it here because we’re near town and in a good location. That’s not true at all. The noise and pollution is not good,” she added.
And with the site acting as a car park also, Dennis and Cheryl say they can’t let their children out of their eyesight, as they are concerned for their safety.
Many locals feel the car park would be ideal for coaches and buses full of tourists.
The McGinleys agree with this sentiment, and are adamant that they are willing to go, once there is a suitable site for them.
But, they feel Sligo County Council is not listening to their needs. Barney McGinley says they are not seeking any form of financial compensation to leave.
“We’re cramped here. The kids have toys and bikes and they have nowhere to play with them.
“We always wanted to go. We never wanted to be here. Years ago we wanted to move to the Bundoran Road.
“But we were offered a place in Finisklin beside the dump and industrial estate and that’s not suitable for young kids.”
The lack of privacy and hot water makes life difficult for the family.
A new bathroom unit was placed in the halting site in recent months, but Barney says the generator broke down after just two months, and they have to shower with cold water.
“We have no privacy here. We have no hot water. In the winter we have to use a gas heater which is dangerous. The toilet is like a cattle box. We just want somewhere to live,” he said.
A spokesperson for the council said: “A meeting was held last week with the McGinley family and their representative in relation to a number of short- term and long- term issues, and the Council will continue to engage with the family to clarify any of the issues raised in the discussions.”