Evicted grandmother: 'I'm ashamed to call myself a Glaswegian after that show'

Published on 24/03/2011 14:54

SHE had defied attempts to force her from her home for six days. But as dawn broke over Glasgow yesterday, the stand-off between Margaret Jaconelli and Glasgow City Council finally came to an end.

Sheriff officers and masked council workers accompanied by dozens of police officers descended on Ardenlea Street in Dalmarnock just after 5am to evict the Jaconellis from their home to make way for the Commonwealth Games development.

Workers were accused of injuring Mrs Jaconelli, 52 and her husband, Jack, also 52, during the eviction, as they forced open the doors with hammers and electric saws during a two-hour operation.

They entered the street via the existing entrance to the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village site, in a procession of police vans and unmarked vans.

Family members and supporters who had kept a round-the-clock vigil rushed to protest outside the house, but were forced back by officers.

It was estimated that between 60 and 100 police officers accompanied the nine sheriff officers and a team of workers as they attempted to enter the heavily barricaded tenement.

After initial requests to open up were rebuffed, workers wearing balaclavas and dust masks used hammers and electric saws in an attempt to open both the front and back doors, which had been reinforced by Mr Jaconelli, a builder, using masonry and iron poles.

Speaking later in the day, Mrs Jaconelli alleged that the couple had both been injured during the eviction.

"All that, for five people in that house, one of them with a heart condition," she said.

"I am deeply ashamed to call myself a Glaswegian after that show. My arms are bruised, I have scratches on my legs and I think Jack got hit on the hand with a sledgehammer.

"Once they got into my close, they cut off the electricity so we were in darkness.

"Workmen tried to hide their faces with balaclavas and masks, but we could see they were the guys from the Commonwealth Games site.

"I put my arm out the window and someone peeled back a metal shutter against it.

"I shouted at the cops to get it on film, because they were using thermal imaging cameras on us.

"I now have terrible bruising on my arms and scratches on my legs."

At 7:20am, the couple emerged with their fists raised in defiance to a crowd of cheering supporters who embraced them.

It is understood that the couple are now staying with family members.Mrs Jaconelli and her husband are in dispute with the council over the amount of money offered for the compulsory purchase of the house they have lived in for 34 years.

A spokesman for the Glasgow City Council said: "We are pleased that the eviction has been completed".

He said the council had tried to engage with Mrs Jaconelli "as much as possible", and had used a compulsory purchase order as a last resort. He said an offer of new housing was still available.

TIMELINE

5am: Margaret Jaconelli's husband, Jack, receives a tip-off that sheriff officers and police officers are on their way to the property.

5:05am: A procession of police vans and unmarked vans appears at the Ardenlea Street entrance to Commonwealth Games construction site.

5:11am: Family members and supporters who have been sleeping in their cars realise what is happening and rush to the front of the tenement, but are forced back to the end of the street by police.

5:20am: Sheriff officers and masked workers set about entering the barricaded building using hammers and electric saws.

6:20am: They finally gain access to the tenement close, but still have to break through the door of the flat.

7:20am: Mr Jaconelli finally agrees to open the door of the flat and the eviction goes ahead.