Counihan-Sanchez family facing eviction

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Tuesday September 11, 2012 13:24

by Gerry Downing

gerdowning at btinternet dot com

The plight of the Counihan-Sanchez family has got extensive coverage in the Irish Post and Irish world. Basically a family of seven is facing eviction onto the streets because Anthony, the father, inherited nine acres in Galway and Brent Council decided in January this year that this "capital asset" rendered then ineligible for Housing Benefit. They were issued with an eviction notice for 13 August, which was halted by court action.

Counihan Family

A row broke out about what Glenda Jackson MP said in private to Isabel Counihan -Sanchez - Glenda denied she had told the family to move to Wales but whatever Glenda said to Isabel in private she made her attitude abundantly clear during the course of that meeting in the Kingsgate Community centre in Kilburn on 29th August. She told the Counihans that the family were subject to means-tested housing benefit, and since they had “capital assets” in Ireland, were not entitled to any benefit. As this was the law, she said, she was unable to do anything, and she also refused to table an Early Day Motion on the issue.

In response to my query of what she saw as her role she said “my job is to tell them the reality”. “And what makes you any different to any Tory MP then?” I asked. She also reduced Isabel to tears by refusing to take a folder that she had prepared with all the details of the families’ health and other social problems and telling her that that she could not come into the meeting, which was public! She refused the same folder from 15 year old Sarah Counihan later.

But worse was to come for the Counihans. Rose McIntosh, the Brent housing Advice officer sent an email to Isabel detailing the advice she gave her when she went to meet her with her sister on Monday 3 September. It seriously proposes that Isabel and her family move to the field that they inherited in Ireland and live in a caravan. She said, though this is not in the email, that Anthony should not give up his job as they were hard to get these days but they could commute I(from Peterswell in Galway to London). Isabel pointed out that they did not have a caravan, there was no sanitation on the site she could not drive and how would they get the children to school, how would she care for Vinny, the four year old autistic child?

Furthermore they had offered to give the land to Brent back in January when the Housing Benefit was about to be cut and the council said that would be illegal because they would be “dispersing assets to gain a means-tested benefit”.

No the council says sell the land but what now happened to the legal advice from January? Was this bogus given to avoid paying the Housing Benefit at the time and was whole nightmare avoidable if the council accepted the offer of the land at the time? And if they now sell it might not that be really illegal and who will pay for all that misery to the whole family?

Isabel was traumatised and suicidal after the interview with Rose McIntosh. She rallied and will speak at the demonstration for the NHS to Brent Town Hall on 15th September and also at the Demonstration down Kilburn High Road on 6th October. She and her family are not going to Hell or to Connaught and the Counihan Battle bus Campaign will never let that happen

gerdowning@btinternet.com

http://www.facebook.com/vincent.counihan.1

http://www.facebook.com/groups/425633484140115/

Inheritance dispute with Brent Council could cost Kilburn family their home
http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/inheritance_dispute_...03277

Glenda Jackson MP condemned by her constituents for social cleansing remarks
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/08/499336.html

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Comments (1 of 1)

brent council warning

by andy - radio show

Wed Oct 10, 2012 05:00

Dear Whom it may concern, http://freethinkingvoice.org/

Andrew peacher 01754228273 Radio Shows and truth campainer

Read this email and these videos carefully before you make a comment.

Please read attachments as well.

I am andy peacher host of The Earth Needs Rebels Radio Show on www.criticalmassradio.co.uk friday evenings at 7pm to 9pm.

and our sunday USA show at 1pm to 3pm on www.oriontalkradio.com.

ALL TIMES ARE UK TIMES

We challenge a member of brent council to this

1 The Leader of brent council to talk to the family see attached before this friday 12th october.

2 A official to talk on 2 radio shows with the campainer and the daughter in this case not the mum and dad due to poor health.

3 If you choose nothing have fathers 4 justice and the group Anonomous stage a protest outside brent council offices within 4 weeks.

The Groups mentioned has v for vendetta protest downing street on 5th november so please dont make this any thing personal.

4 The Family simply need £48000 debt written off it was your fault and give them a home in your area for 7 people.

5 In any event people uk wide and worldwide will hear what brent are doing to this family.
we will write to all mps,councillors,newspapers,tv,radio,family centres,irish communitys,and many more.

6 Brent simple own up or take the hassle the protests recently are nothing now its annonomous turn and fathers 4 justice.

Brent Council you are charging a family 48.000 pounds in overpayment of housing benefits.

Because they was given some land when a relative died in ireland and they declared a small income of £18 a week.

You further tell them to live on that land when you know this land is flooded.

Glenda jackson labour tells the family to move to wales why ? the rents cheeper but thats discrimination.

This family of 7 with children you cause much stress too.

Mum having a mri scan due to illness this week.

The son aged 4 has very dificult autism and bites his hands daily for travelling from the tempory home in the neighbouring borough.

The 15 year old daughter was rushed by abulance this week due to stress from her school.

You further make threats to this family when they are homeless as they are now you will take all 5 children in to care.

BRENT YOU CANT MESS WITH PEOPLE AND I WILL NAME AND SHAME YOU .

This is my work and our 3000 supporters from the family army We will make change to all injustices .

Our best result this month the date of this article was the date of our protest 3000 people

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-19832626

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jndnUcjjKbU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X3Ku62esAU

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Counihan-Sanchez family facing eviction

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