A man whose mother has been denied access to her own apartment in Citywest in Dublin following a developer's receivership is staging a sit-in.
Thomas Bradshaw, whose mother Angela is liable for monthly mortgage payments of €2,400 even though she cannot occupy or rent out the apartment, began the occupation this evening.
Ms Bradshaw was one of 120 investors in the Citywest Golf Suites developed by Jim Mansfield at his leisure and conference complex in West Dublin.
They bought the apartments with an agreement to lease them back as suites in an aparthotel to Mr Mansfield for seven years.
But investors claim they have not received any rent in two years even though they are still liable for mortgage repayments.
Since Royal Bank of Scotland appointed a receiver to the property a year ago, the owners say they have been denied access to the suites.
And the owners cannot now occupy the suites or convert them to apartments as rental units.
Receiver Martin Ferris said he had a lot of sympathy for the investors but pointed out that the suites do not have planning permission for owner occupiers.
He said there are also problems with lack of insurance.
Mr Ferris said the occupation by Mr Bradshaw - who was with two friends when he broke a window to get in to the apartment - was without his consent.
He said he will be consulting with his legal advisors about the situation tomorrow morning.
