‘Neighbours from hell’ are kicked out of home (From Haringey Independent)

‘Neighbours from hell’ are kicked out of home

8:30am Friday 3rd October 2008

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A woman branded a “neighbour from hell” was spied on by Haringey Council so it could evict her from her home.

Frances McDonald, of Vincent Square, Wood Green, was given her marching orders after footage from hidden CCTV cameras installed outside her flat was used in evidence against her.

The secret surveillance was carried out under the Regulatory of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) after neighbours claimed Ms McDonald and her family had caused them constant grief with their drunkenness and fighting.

Members of the family dumped litter in neighbours’ gardens and took drugs into the property, Haringey Council alleged.

Ms McDonald, who has lived at the address for nine years, had no idea the cameras were there and said her privacy had been “violated”.

She said: “I knew nothing about those cameras until I turned up at court.

“My kids can be noisy but no more than anyone else around here. In a way, I’ll be glad to leave this property.

“I’m scared to be here by myself. I’ve even had fireworks pushed through my letterbox.”

A council spokeswoman defended the use of RIPA powers in “very serious cases”, where there has been a long history of antisocial behaviour.

The council first received complaints about the family in 2004 but it wasn’t until 2007 that it began investigating after being “inundated” with complaints.

When questioned, Ms McDonald claimed it was her 25-year-old son, who suffers from epilepsy, causing the nuisance. He was barred from visiting the flat at a court hearing last October, and the mother-of-three was allowed to keep her home on condition there were no further complaints. But despite the warning, complaints kept coming in and neighbours reported that the son had been visiting his mother’s home.

Ms McDonald was taken to court for a second time in December 2007, where neighbours and police gave evidence against her.

The court was shown footage of Ms McDonald shouting and swearing, as well as letting her son into the property, and the court ruled that the council could evict her.

An appeal against the decision was denied on September 1.

Ms McDonald said: “I don’t have anywhere else to go. I can’t even have my son round to help me pack, otherwise he could be put in jail for two years.”

Her nephew, Ben, said: “Some of the accusations that were made are just unbelievable.”

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, said: “For too long this family have been neighbours from hell. I am really pleased residents’ lives are no longer blighted by these people.”

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