A woman has told the High Court she fears for the safety of her five young children due to “paranormal activity” that has caused tables and chairs to move at her newly provided council home.
Louise and Thomas Stokes took a High Court case alleging they could not stay at their previous home in Mount Temple, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim because of concerns for their children’s health arising from a mould problem. The case was struck out on Friday.
However, Ms Stokes told Mr Justice Garrett Simons that a new property the family has been moved into by Leitrim County Council has caused her to be fearful for her children due to “paranormal activity”.
The family’s original complaint to the High Court was that the local authority did not classify them as homeless even though it was alleged that mould in the first property was so bad had led to hospital visits and forced the entire family to sleep downstairs rather than in their bedrooms.
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The claim against the council alleged that works were carried out to alleviate the situation by improving ventilation and removing the mould but the problem returned. Those works were insufficient, the family claimed, in arguing that the property was not fit for human habitation and emergency accommodation was needed.
The family alleged that in the five-year period they lived in the property, the problem with mould became so bad that they were forced to leave and live temporarily with relatives before returning. The court heard that the council placed the family on a transfer list and they accepted the offer of a new property in October.
However, Ms Stokes told Mr Justice Simons that since she has moved there “numerous objects” in the new house have been “flown from side to side”, while doors and a table and chairs “were moving in front of our eyes”. She said that while making food for her children, objects flew out of the cupboard she opened.
Ms Stokes said she contacted the previous occupant of the house, who wrote them a letter which the applicant described as “beyond traumatic”. Ms Stokes claims she brought the letter to the attention of the council but was “laughed at” during a meeting.
“Everyone deserves a home. I never asked for a mansion, I asked for a safe home for my kids. I just want somewhere safe for my kids five days before Christmas,” she said.
Mr Justice Simons struck out the family’s claim against the council, which he said only related to the first property. He said the only case before him was in relation to the first house and that “the case has come and gone, as it were” due to the family’s move.
He told Ms Stokes he understood her concern about the second house experiencing “paranormal activity” and her fears for the safety of her children, but that a third house would mean a new application to the local authority.
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