The family of Bríd Cummins, who died on the day she was due to be evicted by Galway City Council, have called for an independent inquiry into the local authority's handling of her case.
Ms Angela Harte, sister of Ms Cummins, told The Irish Times that there were serious questions to be answered in relation to Galway City Council's own report on the case, including its claim that it had sought to arrange accommodation for her after her eviction.
Ms Cummins's solicitor, Mr Jarlath McInerney, has also described the council's approach as one of "relentless pursuit" of a tenant, lacking in compassion. He said that the council had stalled in responding to a case which Ms Cummins had taken against it for unsuitable accommodation.
Instead, it had proceeded to evict her when there was no written complaint by Ms Cummins's neighbours against her on city council files.
Ms Harte, who is one of Ms Cummins's five sisters and lives in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, confirmed that Ms Cummins had offered to leave her council flat voluntarily if she was allowed to stay until the end of January, or at least until Christmas.
However, the local authority refused to take up this offer. Ms Cummins's solicitor had offered to drop the appeal against the eviction order if this compromise could be reached.
She also disputed the city council's claim that it had tried to arrange for a rent allowance for Ms Cummins through Threshold, a claim it made in its own report after criticism that it had directed the homeless organisation, Cope, not to assist her before or after her eviction. Ms Harte said that her sister had phoned her shortly before the eviction and told her that the city council had refused to sign a Threshold form for rent allowance.
The city council signed a Threshold form on December 6th, the day Ms Cummins was due to be evicted and was found dead in her flat.
Speaking on Galway Bay FM radio yesterday, Mr McInerney said that the city council had sought to look for scapegoats and its report was incorrect, with many omissions.
Nor was there any written complaint filed against Ms Cummins by a neighbour, in spite of the fact that Ms Cummins was evicted for alleged anti-social behaviour. "There is nothing on file to suggest people are fearing for their lives," he emphasised.
"Mention in the report is made of assaults. I can find no written complaint of assaults," he said. One complaint was made by a neighbour to the Garda in June last, but it was never acted upon.
He criticised the fact that the city council had delayed its response to Ms Cummins's own legal action against it by nine months.
Mr McInerney also said that the local authority had sought costs against Ms Cummins after her failed appeal, even though she had a disability and was about to be made homeless.
Last Monday, a call for an inquiry made by the Mayor of Galway, Cllr Catherine Connolly (Lab), was rejected by councillors by eight votes to six.
Galway City Council said last night it was making no comment pending further questions from councillors on January 21st. It had given a commitment to compile a response to these questions within a three-week period.