Temporary reprieve for diabetic and disabled daughter threatened with eviction

PUBLISHED: 22:35 14 July 2015 | UPDATED: 14:42 11 November 2015

Sarah Linney

Bromley Civic Centre

Archant

A DIABETIC man and his severely disabled daughter are facing eviction from their Beckenham home.

Paul Rooney gave up his job as a social work manager to look after his 14-year-old daughter Roisin, who has several health conditions.

But, according to the union Unite, after he found himself in council tax arrears of £2,000 – which the union says were caused by incorrect processing of his application for council tax benefit – bailiffs were this week attempting to repossess his home in Yew Tree Road.

The union says that the private firm which collects Bromley’s council tax has tacked on £49,000 in solicitors’ fees.

Dozens of neighbours and members of Unite gathered outside Mr Rooney’s home to try to stop the repossession.

He was subsequently given a seven-day reprieve until next Tuesday, when his case will be heard at Croydon County Court.

Unite spokeswoman Pilgrim Tucker said: “This is a horrific, inhumane case and an astonishing cock-up.”

A spokeswoman for Bromley Council said: “We do not comment on individual cases. However, the court would not have made an order unless it was satisfied that the debt was owed, and aspects of Mr Rooney`s benefits claim were subject to independent consideration.”