A former landlady found to have kept a number of student tenants under electronic surveillance has told the Master of the High Court she fears losing her Dublin home due to efforts to enforce judgments of some €115,000 entered against her and her daughter six years ago.
In 2007, Rita McKenna and her daughter Edel were ordered by Circuit Court Judge Gerard Griffin to pay damages of more than €115,000 to 10 students who were tenants in their house after finding they had kept the students under secret electronic surveillance.
The tenants, from Mayo, Galway, Donegal, Armagh and Monaghan, had rented rooms in 46 Mobhi Road in Glasnevin from the McKennas in 2003 and 2004.
They became concerned in late 2004 their conversations and activities were being monitored when the McKennas referred to details the students had discussed in private in the house. When they raised the issue, they were evicted.
One tenant, Patricia Hegarty, brought a case against the mother and daughter in 2004, which was later settled out of court. Ten more tenants subsequently sued the McKennas for breach of privacy.
In a bid to secure payment on foot of the judgments granted, a judgment mortgage has been registered against the Mobhi Road property.
Appeal request
Yesterday, Ms McKenna, representing herself, asked High Court Master Edmund Honohan to make orders which would allow her appeal against the 2007 Circuit Court order. Under the relevant rules, an appeal should be lodged within 10 days but Ms McKenna wants that time extended.
Master Honohan adjourned the application to next month.
In his Circuit Court decision, Judge Griffin ruled the students’ rights to privacy was infringed and awarded damages.
