The Limerick family say they slept under a bridge after they...

John Johnson, 54, cried and said he and his children “walked the streets” after bailiffs called to his home in Assumpta Park last Saturday.

The family said they were unable to find emergency accommodation due to the lack of available beds.

“I have three sons who live with me and one of their friends. The bailiffs came Saturday morning and told us to leave the house, ”Johnson said, wiping his tears away.

“I asked if they would give us an hour and they said no, they would give us half an hour. They said we were going and that was it. ”

“I asked them what about Covid-19 and they said we had to go and that they would just do their job. They told us to leave the house. ”

“We left and have no more space, we are on the street. It’s ridiculous, especially with the pandemic. ”

Johnson claimed bailiffs had a battering ram on them but didn’t use it because he let them in when they called around 9 a.m. last Saturday.

“I’ve worked in the bar trade all my life, been on a community employment program for three years, and got another job in a pub. I was there for a week and it was closed for Covid, ”Johnson said.

“I am entitled to the weekly Covid payment, but I haven’t received it for two weeks.”

“I’ve never been in this situation before, it’s heartbreaking. I’ve worked all my life. ”

Johnson said his only current option was to “walk the streets”.

He and his sons David and Adam (both 29) and David’s girlfriend Debbie Moloney (36) huddled together in blankets under Sarsfield Bridge Saturday night and Sunday night.

They slept a few yards from John’s brother Jimmy, who died of suicide in the River Shannon ten years ago.

“It was very hard, my mother Rita also went into the river. Jimmy went in first and my mom couldn’t take it and she went in. My nephew Ross also went into the river, ”he called.

“I’m freezing. I do not know what to do. My heart breaks for him, ”he added.

Last February, the High Court ruled that a financial fund was entitled to own Johnson’s home under a “lifelong” mortgage given by Johnson’s father, Larry, eight years before his death in 2015.

Johnson’s late father took out a “lifetime” or “reverse” mortgage in 2007 for a loan of € 52,700.

However, John Johnson said he couldn’t afford to pay off the loan.

“It’s my father’s house, our family home for 60 years. My father had Alzheimer’s and I took care of him for the last five years of his life. ”

The Johnsons claimed they felt “intimidated” because bailiffs wore dark clothes, hats and masks, and bleach was poured on property, clothing, beds and furniture.

Frankie Daly, independent local councilor, said he was trying to find shelter for the family.

“I find it appalling that in the middle of a pandemic a vulnerable man and his family have to sleep under a bridge,” said Cllr Daly.

“I contacted the council’s homeless action team. Over the weekend, the Johnsons struggled to reach the emergency number. There is a resource problem there and I think we need more resources to be able to accommodate people in hotels. ”

The family went to Limerick City and county council yesterday to try to find shelter.

A Limerick City Council spokesman replied that the local authority “does not comment on individual cases as it does not believe in discussing a client’s personal affairs in a public forum”.

However, they confirmed that the council had dealt with the family and that “an assessment of the customer has now taken place”.

“The current situation with Covid-19 has been challenging to provide homeless services, but the Limerick Homeless Action Team is working to make room for all presenters,” the spokesman said.

According to the latest figures, 2,654 applicants were on the council’s waiting list.

There were 128 individuals as well as 30 families who had access to local homeless services.