Offaly man living in fear of eviction to hold vigil outside bank in Limerick

AN Offaly man living in fear of eviction is to hold a vigil outside the PTSB bank in Limerick on World Mental Health Day later this week.

Tullamore native, Tom Roche – whose home in Rhode is being repossessed by PTSB - will hold a peaceful vigil outside the PTSB Branch on O’Connell St, Limerick from 11 am until 2 pm on this Thursday, October 10.

"The purpose of the vigil is to highlight the level of mental stress PTSB is putting on me and many others as they prepare to issue proceedings to repossess my home and sell our mortgages on to vulture funds for greatly reduced prices," outlined the veteran Offaly environmentalist.

Mr Roche explained that over the past number of years he has tried every legal avenue open to him to deal with his distressed mortgage, but failed.

"I live in fear of eviction - not a pleasant state of mind at 75 years of age. This has seriously affected my mental, physical and emotional health," he added.

The upcoming Limerick vigil will be his tenth following vigils outside PTSB branches in Tullamore, Mullingar, Athlone, Longford, The Four Courts. (Dublin), Portlaoise, Carlow, Nenagh and Eyre Square in Galway City.

Outlined Mr Roche: "Prior to the banking scandal (which I had no act or part in) I was financially secure (through Government funding for my Development Education (DE) work with schools) and quite able to meet my mortgage and mortgage protection policy payments. Funding for work like mine was diverted to prop up the banks, leaving thousands of people like myself without a salary to continue our work."

Mr Roche said he was looking for a just and equitable resolution to this matter.

"Yet, for the past 15 years I have been made feel like an outlaw even though I broke no laws and had no act or part in causing the banking scandal.

"In essence what is happening is that I, along with thousands of other distressed mortgage holders, are being forced to pay for the criminal acts of Ireland’s bankers with the repossession of our home and I am not having any of it.”