Housing Campaigners win victory over DL/R council

dublin | housing | news report Dé hAoine Meitheamh 03, 2005 11:58 by Dave - SWP dlordan at hotmail dot com

After 2 weeks of continual protest outside Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Town hall Margaret Watson has finally won her campaign for council housing.

Housing Campaigners win victory over DL/R council

After 2 weeks of continual protest outside Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Town hall Margaret Watson has finally won her campaign for council housing.
Margaret mounted the 24hr picket after she became homeless on the 19th May. Her and her tent became a familiar sight to all passing through Dun Laoghaire. Over the course of her campaign her supporters collected 6500 petitions supporting her right to council housing.
DL/R county council has now agreed in writing to house Margaret and her daughter Fran within a short period. When the protest began the council were refusing to even consider Margaret’s case.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Socialist Workers Party) said that ‘ We are delighted the council has finally taken note of the thousands of people who supported Margaret’s case. At the beginning no-body in the council was listening to Margaret. It was only when she took her campaign onto the street that they began to sit up and take note. This victory shows that people power is the only way we are going the solve the housing crisis in this country. ’
Margaret Watson said ‘ Thanks to all my supporters who stood by me through sunshine and rain. I would particularly to thank the Portview hotel and the lady in the B and B who provided us with food. Thanks to Eamonn Gilmore TD and Thanks to Richard and all his colleagues in the SWP for standing beside me on my picket. I hope my struggle will be an example to everybody whose housing problems are being ignored by the county Council’