Country’s first household charge cases appear before Westport Court

Country’s first household charge cases appear before Westport Court


Anton McNulty

THE first-ever prosecutions in the country for the non-declaration of the household charge came before Judge Mary Devins in Westport District Court today (Thursday).
Mayo County Council became is the first local authority in the country to issue summonses against householders for the non-declaration and payment of the controversial household charge. At today’s sitting of the court, charges of non-declaration of the household charge were brought against Peter Anthony Keegan of Belclare, Westport, Co Mayo, and husband and wife, Liam and Barbara O’Malley of Clooneen, Rosbeg, Westport, Co Mayo.
Summonses were issued against Mr Keegan in relation to six units located at Crannog House, The Quay, Westport, while Mr Liam O’Malley was issued with summonses for 12 units in Westport and Barbara O’Malley was issued with summonses in relation to three units in Westport.
When asked by Judge Devins if these were the first cases of their kind to appear before a court in the country, Mr Ward McEllin, solicitor for Mayo County Council, replied that he understood it was.
Mr McEllin explained that householders are obliged to make a declaration of the household charge and out of that declaration, the €100 payment is made. He said the summonses in all cases were issued for failing to make a declaration of the household charge.
Mr Keegan was not present in court but had written to Mr McEllin stating that he awaited his ‘invitation against proof of claim’. Mr McEllin stated that the prosecution could go ahead in his absence, but Judge Devins said that because it was the first case in the Republic she was not prepared to hear it in his absence. She also said that she wanted to know what his ‘proof of claim’ is. She asked Mr McEllin to ask Mayo County Council to write to Mr Keegan to advice him that the case has been adjourned.
In relation to the summonses against Mr and Mrs O’Malley, Mr McEllin said he was informed the declarations have now been made but they have not ‘gone through the system’ and asked for an adjournment.
Judge Devins agreed and both cases should be adjourned, to appear before Westport District Court on December 20.

‘Bully boy tactics’
The decision by Mayo County Council to start issuing summonses for the household charge has been criticised and described as ‘bully boy tactics’ by Sinn Féin’s Environment and Local Government Spokesperson Brian Stanley, who called for them to be withdrawn.
According to Mayo County Secretary, John Condon, approximately three out of every four householders in County Mayo have paid the household charge to date. As part of its continuing campaign to collect all of the monies outstanding, Mayo County Council recently issued 28,641 letters to householders.
Some of these letters were sent to households who have paid the charge, and Mr Condon was forced to issue an apology on Friday evening last, for the errors.