Cuppas, kickabouts and the Queen: dramatic day had it all, but Games eviction still suffers false start

Published on Friday 18 March 2011 19:06

A WOMAN facing eviction from her home to make way for the Commonwealth Games won a last-minute reprieve yesterday but still faces being ejected from her house.

Margaret Jaconelli and her husband Jack, both 52, have been engaged in an eight-year battle with Glasgow City Council over the compulsory purchase of their tenement home in Ardenlea Street, Dalmarnock, which sits on the site earmarked for the athletes' village.

But despite various comings and goings at the property by police and sheriff's officers yesterday, the family clung on to their home - if just for a few more days.

Glasgow City Council gave up attempts to evict them, saying the flat was too full of children for them to get the job done.

The couple - the block's last remaining tenants - had expected to be evicted after the Court of Session rejected Mrs Jaconelli's attempt to resist the council's order on Thursday.

Yesterday morning, Mrs Jaconelli met her lawyers to discuss how to get more time to negotiate with the council.

Meanwhile, the windows and doors of the house were plastered with posters bearing messages including "Respect My Human Rights" and "Hands Off My Home".

One family member related in disbelief that earlier in the morning council repairmen had arrived to fix a light at the back of property, "for a building they want to knock down".

As the morning wore on, friends and family gathered outside the flat in the cold to show their support for the couple, who were joined inside by other family members, including a number of grandchildren.

As the midday deadline approached, the couple emerged into the street and, surrounded by their family, gave a statement expressing their disgust at the council and their belief in their stance. They returned inside and the tenement door was nailed shut, forcing family members to enter via the front window.

Outside, relatives parked cars and vans in the middle of the street to prevent any council removal vans getting access.

Midday passed without incident, followed by the appearance of a dozen police officers and the erection of a cordon at the end of the street.

A senior policeman approached the window to tell the family that the sheriff's officers would be arriving soon to inform them of the eviction.

At 12:40pm, the officers turned up and, though they received a frosty reception from crowds, spoke to the couple through a window. The family said their lawyer was in talks with the council. The officers said they would have to clarify the situation and left.As tension subsided, a football was brought out and a kick-about developed, while biscuits and cups of coffee and tea were passed out by the Jaconellis to the waiting media. A letter was presented from the window - a message from Mrs Jaconelli to The Queen, "mother to mother", asking for her intervention .

Finally, two hours after the deadline had passed, Mr Jaconelli said that their lawyer had contacted them and said that council was willing to enter mediation, but that it would only do so if they agreed to leave on Monday. He added that the local authority had said it would consider suing them for financial penalties they incurred because of the delay in their eviction.

The grandfather-of-four said they had not decided whether to take the offer. "We could end up with nothing. We've got a gun to our head now, we have to state that we are going to leave on Monday."

Confirming the offer of mediation and threat of legal action, Glasgow City Council said: "It has not been possible to complete the eviction. The number of children in the flat makes it extremely difficult to gain entry.

"We will make no further comment on how we will carry out the eviction."

The argument centres on the sum the council has offered as part of the compulsory purchase order for the two-bedroom property. An original offer of 30,000 was made, which was later increased to 90,000.

Mrs Jaconelli refused this figure on the grounds that the offer was not enough.

Timeline

9am: Mrs Jaconelli meets her lawyers to discuss any potential route to avoid eviction.

11am: Family and friends gather outside the house to show their support, blocking the tenement entrance and parking cars in the road.

11.30am: The Jaconellis emerge for what they believe will be the last time this weekend to make a statement to the press.

11.45am: The sound of hammering and drilling can be heard behind the tenement door as it is nailed shut.

NooN: The deadline for the eviction arrives and goes.

12.15pm: A group of police officers arrive at the street, which is cordoned off.

12.40pm: Sheriff officers arrive at the house to demand the Jaconellis leave the property. They are informed that the family lawyer is still in negotiations with the council, and agree to leave to clarify the situation.

2pm: Police depart from the scene.

2.20pm: Jaconellis announce that the council has agreed to postpone the eviction for the day.