In a hearing at the Residential Tenancies Board tribunal, it was revealed that a tenant, suspected of operating a puppy breeding facility from a Castlecomer property he was leasing in County Kilkenny, had reportedly threatened his landlord “with a knife” amidst the process of eviction. The tenant disputed the claims, insisting that a wrongful expulsion took place when the locks were altered in August 2023 – an act he stated adversely impacted him and his 75-year-old mother.
During the eviction, various parties were present: members of the Gardaí, ISPCA personnel, representatives from the HSE, Kilkenny County Council, and the Ukrainian Centre, along with an interpreter for Ukrainian.
The landlord’s spokesperson noted that the tenant, over a certain period, had not less than 100 dogs split between his Kilkenny residence and another location in Tipperary. Among these dogs were prohibited breeds like pit bulls. The tenant’s pet ownership, the landlord alleged, posed a significant threat to his 90-year-old mother that lived nearby, as the dogs were allowed to wander freely.
ISPCA officers allegedly waylaid dogs due to accusations of maltreatment, while the HSE intervened to assist the tenant’s mother due to the dreadful living conditions discovered. The mother was found sleeping on a floor mattress amid numerous dogs and degraded premises – the landlord’s representative’s claims.
Knives were found in the property during this incident, with the tenant supposedly using one to intimidate the landlord. The tenant’s mother, a Ukrainian immigrant who arrived in Ireland in 2023, declined alternative accommodations offered by the authorities and instead transferred to her son’s Tipperary property.
Since the tenant’s residence began in 2014, eviction attempts have persisted, however, the tenant has “persistently declined to vacate”, as stated by the landlord’s spokesperson. The property was purported to be severely damaged due to overuse, and it was alleged that the extensive dog presence resulted in water contamination and sewage overflow.
In the month of May, he addressed the tribunal, informing them of ongoing investigations led by the ISPCA and the police force. The tribunal ruled that the seven-day termination notice issued in anticipation of the eviction was legitimate, the reason given was the severe antisocial tendencies of the tenant.
Simultaneously, a tenant from Bandon, Co Cork was instructed by another RTB tribunal to leave the premises within 21 days due to his friend’s ‘spitting’ incident involving another resident in the residential complex. The tribunal noted that the tenant and his acquaintances, who were usually intoxicated, were consistently intimidating other inhabitants. Instances of the tenant’s guests spitting at a female inhabitant were also noted.
Further issues arose from the tenant frequently getting locked out of his flat, resorting to a ladder to gain entry via the first-floor window in a drunken state. This reckless act was labelled as ‘the final straw’ by the landlord. The tenant’s pets also added to the troubles, leaving dog and cat faeces around the accommodation and communal zones, leading to an offensive odour. Moreover, discoloration and damage to furnishings, which would require at least €6,000 to repair, was also reported by the landlord.
Despite the tenant refuting most allegations, claiming to have been suffering from a medical condition that made him unable to consume alcohol for the past year, the landlord claimed to feel threatened both personally and for his family’s safety.
While the tenant admitted that his guest had spat at another resident, he reassured that the responsible party was no longer permitted to visit. He also claimed that other guests generally stopped by for a short visit and a coffee, usually staying less than an hour.
The tribunal concluded that the tenant, who had been overstaying since October 2023, had violated his tenant duties due to antisocial conduct. Consequently, he was ordered to evacuate the property within a span of three weeks.