Successful Appeal of Housing Executive’s Decision

31st May 2023
After a long appeals process our client has now been awarded her full points and will now be rehomed in a safe environment for her and her children.

Our client and her young family were put under threat by paramilitaries and instructed to vacate her residence. Our client contacted our office after she was refused intimidation points under the Housing Executive points system. The Housing Executive did not deem her under enough threat to qualify for these points. These very serious threats were substantiated by both the PSNI & Base 2, an organisation specialising in threat assessments, who confirmed that she was indeed under threat and that her safety was compromised in her current residence and surrounding area.

Phoenix Law challenged the Housing Executive’s decision. After a lengthy appeals process the Housing Executive accepted that their initial decision was incorrect and our client has now been awarded her maximum points. Thereby ensuring her eligibility for rehousing in a safe area.

Our client and her three young children have been granted a fresh start. The reassessment of her application has resulted in her being urgently rehoused in an area where their safety can be guaranteed.

Our Diarmuid Brecknell acts. 

Legal Executive

Diarmuid Brecknell

Legal Executive

Diarmuid Brecknell

Diarmuid is a legal executive in the Public Law, Inquests and Inquiries Department.  Having completed his LLB Degree at Ulster University, Diarmuid has specialised in both inquests and actions against public authorities.  He is instructed in some of the most high-profile inquests in the jurisdiction.  Diarmuid continues to act in several high value civil actions for damages as a result of acts by public and private authorities.   

Diarmuid has assisted in some of the most contentious and complex challenges to public authorities coming before the Courts in recent times.  Such experience includes the recent Supreme Court case of Re McGuigan & McKenna (‘The Hooded Men’), and the Court of Appeal decision in Re Barnard (‘The Glenanne Series’) which resulted in the Court ordering a fresh investigation into the murder of over 120 deaths.   

Diarmuid’s extensive inquest and inquiry experience includes appearing in the high-profile Stardust Fire Inquest in Dublin, the Ballymurphy Inquest, and the Hickson Public Inquiry into historic child abuse.   

Diarmuid continues to act in several high value civil actions for damages as a result of acts by public and private authorities.   

Email:diarmuid@phoenix-law.org

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