The home of a Cork family evicted for anti-social behaviour two years ago by Cork Corporation was partially destroyed by fire early yesterday. It was unoccupied at the time.
Mrs Helen Heaphy, a mother of seven, is the registered owner of the house at Rathpeacon Road, Farranree, Cork. Two units of Cork fire brigade were alerted at 5.30 a.m. when neighbours saw smoke and flames coming from a downstairs window. By the time the blaze was brought under control an estimated £25,000 worth of damage had been caused.
The District Court in Cork granted Cork Corporation an eviction order against Mrs Heaphy in March 1999, and the order was upheld following an unsuccessful appeal to the Circuit Court. Mrs Heaphy is now challenging the corporation's right to evict her in the High Court and a hearing has been scheduled for July 25th.
It is understood that the Heaphy family have not lived in the house for the past number of months.