A mother has told the High Court that the council home she has been transferred to has made her fear for the safety of her five young children due to "paranormal activity" that has caused tables and chairs to move and objects to be flown around.
The High Court action was taken by Thomas and Louise Stokes, with an address listed at Mount Temple, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, claiming that the family could not stay at that address due to concerns for their children's health arising from a mould problem.
However, Ms Stokes told Mr Justice Garrett Simons on Friday that a new property the family has been moved into has caused her to be fearful for her children due to "paranormal activity".
The Stokes’ original complaint to the High Court was that the local authority did not classify them as ‘homeless’, even though, it was alleged, the mould in the first property was so bad it involved hospital visits and forced the entire family to sleep downstairs rather than in their own bedrooms.
The claim against the council alleged that works were carried out to alleviate the situation by improving ventilation and removing the mould caused by dampness but the problem returned.
Those works were insufficient, the family claimed in arguing that the property was not fit for human habitation and emergency accommodation was needed.
The family claim that in the five-year period they lived in the property, the problem with mould became so bad that they were forced to leave and live temporarily with relatives before returning to the house.
The court heard that the council placed the family on a transfer list and the offer of a new property was accepted by the Stokes in October.
However, Ms Stokes told Mr Justice Simons that since she has moved there, “numerous objects” in the new house have been “flown from side to side”, while doors and a table and chairs “were moving in front of our eyes”.
She claims that while making food for her children, objects flew out of the cupboard she opened.
Ms Stokes said she contacted the previous occupant of the house, who wrote them a letter that the applicant described as “beyond traumatic”.
Ms Stokes claims she brought the letter to the attention of the council but was “laughed at” in a meeting.
“Everyone deserves a home. I never asked for a mansion, I asked for a safe home for my kids. I just want somewhere safe for my kids five days before Christmas,” she said.
At the High Court on Friday, Mr Justice Simons struck out the Stokes’ claim against Leitrim County Council.
Mr Justice Simons said the claim before him only related to the first property and that if there were new claims, they would have to be lodged separately with the court.
Mr Justice Simons said the only case before him was in relation to the first house and that “the case has come and gone, as it were” due to the Stokes' transferring to the new house.
He told Ms Stokes that he understood her concern about the second house experiencing "paranormal activity" and her fears for the safety of her children but that a third house would mean a new application to the local authority.
