The people of Borrisokane stand up against families' threatened evictions

The people of Borrisokane are standing up against the threatened evictions of people in their community and are demanding that eviction notices be withdrawn.

96 people living in Riverside Apartments in the town were issued with eviction notices recently and the first families will be evicted on July 26.

The Church of Ireland Hall was packed for a public meeting about the issue on Friday evening last during which the people of the town were unanimous in their very strong support for the threatened tenants, and some of the people who had received the notices spoke eloquently and passionately about their love of Borrisokane.

The meeting was organised by a local Liaison Committee and was attended by a number of local Councillors and TDs.

During the meeting the government was called upon again and again to honour the Borrisokane IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Service) Agreement of November 2019. IPAS is responsible for providing accommodation and related services for individuals and families who arrive in Ireland and enter the International Protection ('asylum') process. The 96 people who arrived in Borrisokane in November 2019 have assimilated very well and many of them have been awarded Irish citizenship.

It was pointed out a number of times during Friday evening's meeting that in November 2019 the Department of Justice “made an agreement with the people of Borrisokane” to ensure the smooth integration of international protection applicants into the town in the Riverside Apartments. It was a tense time in the country and the people of Borrisokane became exemplary as to how to handle new arrivals. In the agreement the government said they would welcome the residents using HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) to stay in their apartments.

Now, five years later, they are being evicted and, during a Housing Crisis, they have nowhere to go. It's believed that once they have been evicted they will be replaced with a new group of asylum seekers.

Deputy Alan Kelly called on the Taoiseach to honour the Borrisokane IPA Agreement from 2019.

He said the treatment of the residents of Riverside Apartments could not be condoned. "There are 20 families affected,” he remarked. “27 children are currently in primary school in the town, 10 are in secondary school in the town and 11 have moved on to various third level courses. The families are totally involved in the community; Sobello is a coach with the underage soccer team and he also set up the community garden in the local town park where local people can grow their own vegetables; Guillema is a volunteer with the Alone charity while Ase was just recently part of the U13 Borrisokane GAA team that won the North Tipperary championship. The recent African day in the town was a great success.
"Many in the community who had concerns in 2019 are now the very people who are fighting to keep the new residents in the community."
A number of the members of the Liaison Committee addressed the meeting. The committee includes Chairperson Martin Tooher, Secretary Maria Donnelly, PRO Mags Donnelly, Tom Kennedy and Keith Donovan. The Riverside residents who addressed the meeting included Galeema Davids, Benjamin Afriya and Dolly Tunde-Muraina.

Galeema Davids said it had been “a gift” to be part of “this community” for the last five years. “The children love it here. We feel so safe, something which we didn't feel from where we came from. Coming to Ireland from Africa was not an easy decision for us. We thank you for making us feel welcome and safe here. It feels like home for us.”

Benjamin Afreya said he was very happy to see so many people from the local community present at the meeting. “When we were asylum seekers five years ago it was difficult for us. We had to leave our homes and try to find a country which was safe. When we arrived in Ireland we didn't know where we were going to end up. We came to Borrisokane and have been made very welcome. This is home for us now.

“When we received the eviction notice a few weeks ago it wasn't easy. Ever since, my wife has been very worried about becoming homeless. I have been doing my best to comfort her.”

Dolly Tunde-Muraina said she was “overwhelmed” to see so many people at the meeting. She recalled arriving in Borrisokane in November 2019 and receiving “warm hugs of welcome” from the locals. "Now we think of Borrisokane as home. None of us want to leave. When people ask me where I live I say, 'Borris'! We are not people of colour. We are people of Borrisokane. We have children in the local secondary and primary schools. Some of our children are in Irish universities. Our children are playing in the local sports teams. We are all very worried about being made homeless. Finding a new home is nearly impossible during the Housing Crisis. We want to stay in Borrisokane, to continue working here, to continue paying our taxes like everyone else.”

Sarah Leahy, Principal of Scoil Mhuire Primary School, gave a powerful speech during which she said she dreaded the day when she would see 27 empty desks in the school. She read some of the 27 children's comments about the eviction notices. They included: “I don't have a home anymore. They are kicking us out.” “I don't want to leave.” “I cry when I think no one sees and my parents don't know.” “We can't afford the prices of the houses here.” “Can we live in the schools?” Sarah said this eviction experience is “heart-wrenching and devastating for everyone. The children have thrived academically and socially. Now they face the unimaginable reality of homelessness.” After her speech Sarah received a standing ovation from the meeting.

Deputy Michael Lowry called on the government to stand by its November 2019 agreement with the people. He demanded that “the threat of eviction be immediately lifted. The funds are available and they should be used to solve this problem.”

Deputy Jackie Cahill said the examplary stance and the goodness emanating from the people of Borrisokane was inspirational. “You are showing the whole county exactly how migration should work.”

Cllr Joe Hannigan called on the government “to tear up the eviction notices” and stand by the people of Riverside Apartments.

Cllr Seamus Morris said the County Council was proud of the agreement reached in November 2019. “Weeks of work went into it. It's terrible to see it being reneged upon now.” He called on the TDs to get the eviction notices withdrawn.

Cllr Michael O'Meara agreed. “What was decided upon in November 2019 has to now stand.” He praised the people of Borrisokane for being so inspirational.

Minister Anne Rabbitte was also in attendance. She said it was wrong to break something which was working so well.

The Liaison Committee said it will present a Petition signed by everyone in the meeting to the government. The committee promised to continue fighting hard to have the eviction notices withdrawn.

"The Taoiseach," said Deputy Alan Kelly, "needs to show that a compromise can be found whereby he and Minister O’Gorman work with the owners of this property which they have contracts with to allow the residents use HAP to stay in the local community.

"What use is the Government's word and IPAS's word if when a community positively engages with them like Borrisokane did and welcomes asylum seekers that they then turn around and totally let them down?
"Minister O'Gorman's Department has the word 'Integration' in its title. It needs to demonstrate its commitment to this role by doing what's right in Borrisokane.
"There is an upsetting precedent being set in what is happening in Borrisokane and the Taoiseach needs to intervene to prevent it happening.
"I can assure him the people of Borrisokane will stand up for their new residents if he doesn’t."