'We call here home'

Eviction-facing residents plea to stay in Borrisokane

Top level efforts are being made to assist almost a hundred people facing eviction in Borrisokane, who regard the town as their home.

Minister of State Anne Rabbitte and three local TDs were among the attendance at a public meeting in the town last Friday night, at which all speakers voiced support for the residents of the Riverside apartment complex. It is understood that at least 10 eviction notices have been served by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) because the accommodation is intended for new international protection applicants.

The complex was home to 96 asylum-seekers, most of whom have now achieved asylum and are making a meaningful contribution to the local community, where they have been living since 2019.

Noting the huge attendance in the Church of Ireland hall last Friday, several speakers said it is clear that the people of Borrisokane regard the Riverside residents as their own and want them to stay. Maria Donnelly of the Borrisokane Liaison Committee, which was set up when news of the opening of a Direct Provision centre in Borrisokane was announced in 2019, pointed out that it would be almost impossible for the residents to find alternative accommodation in the town.

She and her fellow members of the committee called for the honouring of an agreement made between them, the property management company, the Department of Justice and Tipperary Co Council, stating that families would be allowed continue residing at the complex after achieving asylum if they so chose, either with state assistance or through their own financial means.

"They're part of our community and have been for the last five years," Ms Donnelly said, speaking of how children of the families involved are well-settled in local schools and sports clubs. "We want them to have the right to stay here."

'WE ARE PEOPLE OF BORRISOKANE'

Several residents addressed the meeting, including Galeema Davids, who arrived in Borrisokane in 2019 after fleeing from South Africa. "We feel really safe and very welcome here," she said. "That's not something that we are used to where we come from."

Thanking the people of Borrisokane for their support, she added that the town "really feels like home for us".

Benjamin Afriye also spoke of the welcome he and his family have received in Borrisokane, where they have been living for four years. He spoke of the upset caused by the eviction letter and said his wife worries about the family now becoming homeless.

"We call here home," Mr Afriye told the gathering. "I drive my kids to school every morning."

Another resident, Dolly Tunde-Muraina said she has thought of Borrisokane as home since her arrival in 2019. When people ask her where she is from, she tells them "I'm from Borris!"

"We see ourselves as people of Borrisokane. We are no longer 'people of colour', we are people of Borrisokane... we do not want to move away from the place we call home," said Ms Tunde-Muraina, who added that she has children in the local primary and secondary schools. "We work and pay taxes. We want to live here and develop Borrisokane with you all".

Her daughter Aila recalled arriving in the Tipperary town from the refugee camp in Mosney. Having just completed her Leaving Cert last week, she feared being sent to emergency accommodation now to share a room with the rest of her family. She said her mother is working in a nursing home and all her friends are in Borrisokane.

27 EMPTY CHAIRS

Sarah Leahy, Principal of Scoil Mhuire NS, spoke of the "devastation" caused by news of the eviction notices in her school. The move could result in the loss of 27 pupils, roughly a quarter of the entire school cohort.

In an address that met with a standing ovation from those present, Ms Leahy asked what lesson eviction is teaching our children.

She recounted the comments some of the children had made about the news: "They're kicking us out"; "What did we do?"; "I'll miss my friends"; "I watch my parents trying to find a new home for us, but there are none; "I don’t know if I’ll be back after the summer holidays".

Ms Leahy spoke of a "heart-wrenching" situation facing the school and community, the vibrancy of which has been added to by the new arrivals. She called for the eviction decision to be overturned and for the provision of affordable accommodation in Borrisokane for those concerned.

Deputy Alan Kelly said he is proud of Borrisokane and the way the local community "bucked in the trend in 2019", successfully integrating asylum-seekers into the community. Having raised the matter in the Dáil and spoken to Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman on numerous occasions, Deputy Kellly believed Borrisokane would now become the first community in the country to "call it out" with regard to placing "commercial greed" over humanitarian need.

'HONOUR-BOUND'

Deputy Michael Lowry pointed out that most of the residents concerned have Irish citizenship. "They have earned the right to stay here," he said. It does not matter if the agreement made between the parties in 2019 was not a legal agreement; it was an agreement in principle and the Government is "honour-bound" to implement it, Deputy Lowry told the meeting.

His view was that there are funds available to provide alternative accommodation in Borrisokane. The threat of eviction should be lifted until such time as it is provided. Whether through purchasing properties or new developments, it should be possible to find a solution, Deputy Lowry said, adding that he has discussed the matter with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.

Deputy Jackie Cahill said the goodwill towards the Riverside residents in Borrisokane is clear for all to see. A company seeking to make extra money could not be the "deciding factor" in the situation, he said, assuring those present that he would use his influence in government to secure assurance that the 2019 agreement is honoured.

Cllr Joe Hannigan was Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District at the time the agreement was made. He spoke of the lengths he and the other stakeholders went to in ensuring that Borrisokane got extra schoolteachers to meet the needs of the new arrivals. Cllr Hannigan hit out against the residents being "used as commodities now".

'GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT'

Another member of liaison committee, Tom Kennedy said IPAS had referred to the written agreement as "a commitment, not a legally-binding agreement". He also informed the meeting that the property company had been asked to attend the meeting but was not represented.

Cllr Séamie Morris called for the eviction notices to be withdrawn on Monday of this week and said it is within the power of the TDs to do this. "I don't want to hear any more words," he said, mentioning that the situation has been talked about for the last four to six weeks.

Cllr Michael O'Meara did not want to see a bad ending to the "huge success story" of integration in Borrisokane. "The people of Borrisokane did the State a great service," Cllr O'Meara said. "It was a catalyst for other communities to take people in".

The "gentleman's agreement" involving the property owners and government would have to be honoured but a concerted effort would be required for that to happen, he said, adding that he hopes to see the residents involved still living in Borrisokane five years from now.

Minister of State at the Dept of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Anne Rabbitte agreed that Borrisokane has proven an integration success story. "When something is good, it's good; you don't break good," she said. "It's very hard to find examples of good."

The Portumna native said she would work to ensure that the Riverside contract is honoured. "We will show others around the country how it works," Minister Rabbitte told the meeting. "Nobody has the right to pull the rug out from under 96 people."

Concluding the meeting, Mr Kennedy said the committee was "extremely heartened" by the turnout. It was agreed that a petition would be gathered in support of the case to keep the Riverside residents in Borrisokane.