

A Dublin mother who was said in court to have held loud parties “involving gangland personalities well known to the gardaí” has been given 28 days to leave her home.

Judge Jacqueline Linnane said in the Circuit Civil Court today that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council had terminated Josephine Tyrell’s tenancy in December 2012 for breach of contract.

The judge heard Ms Tyrell had been “the cause of intimidation and fear to her neighbours”.

Judge Linnane said Ms Tyrell had been given several warnings following 36 complaints from neighbours that anti-social behaviour, by her or visitors, had been taking place at her home at Brehon Grove, Ballinteer, Dublin.



‘In fear for their lives’

The judge said Ms Tyrell’s neighbours had been “intimidated and in fear for their lives”. Two tenants had given up their homes because she had caused “considerable disruption” in the estate.

Barrister Martin Dully, counsel for the local authority, said that on one occasion Ms Tyrell had climbed up onto a neighbours’ balcony, shouted at the tenant, had threatened her and had smashed her property.

The judge said that since her tenancy had been terminated, Ms Tyrell had remained unlawfully in the property and the local authority had received a further 36 complaints.

Garda Michael Smith, from Dundrum Garda station, said he had been a community garda for the Ballinteer area from 2010 to 2012 and had been familiar with problems emanating from Ms Tyrell’s home.

Garda Smith said residents complained about noisy parties and abusive and anti-social behaviour. On one occasion he had observed a “gangland personality wearing a bullet-proof jacket” during a loud party at Ms Tyrell’s home.



Stabbing

He told the court that on that occasion he had arrested one of Ms Tyrell’s visitors for a public order offence. He said a man had been stabbed later that night. Both the victim and his assailant had been at the party in Ms Tyrell’s house.

Ms Tyrell said she had been suffering from alcoholism and was attempting to address her problems. She said she feared that she and her children would be homeless if evicted.

Judge Linnane said the local authority had been totally justified in taking the steps it had. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council had to bring court proceedings as Ms Tyrell was still occupying the property even though her tenancy had been terminated. Granting the local authority possession of the house, the judge said Ms Tyrell had enjoyed the benefit of living in the house for over a year since having been told to quit.

The judge directed that there could be no visitors to the premises except herself and her children during the next 28 days she was entitled to live there.