A landlord is seeking a court order directing former independent Clare TD, Violet Anne Wynne and her six children to vacate a rented property in Clarecastle, Co Clare concerning alleged rent arrears of over €18,000.
At Ennis District Court today, the owner of the property, Patricia Warshell of Parliament Street, Ennistymon was seeking an order from the court under Section 124 of the Residential Tenancies Act for Ms Wynne, John Montaine and their six children to immediately vacate their rented home at Main Street, Clarecastle, Co Clare.
Solicitor for Ms Warshell, John Halpin told Judge Adrian Harris that there was an urgency to the matter and his client was seeking an order today but was happy for a stay to be put on the order for one month.
Representing herself in court, Ms Wynne told Judge Harris that she was a single mother and on Wednesday of this week has obtained alternative accommodation for herself and her six children.
Mr Montaine was also in court and applied for an adjournment in the case to allow him to get a solicitor to represent him in the case.
Ms Wynne and Mr Montaine stood on opposite sides of the court when addressing Judge Harris individually.
In the application, Ms Warshell is seeking a judgement against respondents, Ms Wynne and Mr Montaine of €18,000 for rent arrears up to January 31st 2026 together with further arrears which may have accrued up to the hearing of the application.
As part of her application, Ms Warhsell – who wasn’t in court for the brief hearing – is also seeking an order directly Ms Wynne and Mr Montaine and all other persons residing in the dwelling to vacate and give up possession of the dwelling at Main Street, Clarecastle forthwith.
Ms Warshell is seeking an order for possession of the dwelling situated at Main Street Clarecastle in favour of her.
Ms Warshell is also seeking a court order directing Ms Wynne and Mr Montaine to comply forthwith with the terms of a Determination Order dated February 11th this year issued by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to Mr Montaine and Ms Wynne regarding the tenancy of the premises at Main Street, Clarecastle.
Ms Wynne also requested an adjournment to allow her solicitor go through all the documentation in the case that she has provided to her solicitor.
The RTB is a notice party in the proceedings. Judge Harris suggested that the hearing proceed at Kilrush District Court but Ms Wynne told the judge that she is a single mother and has child-care to look after.
Judge Harris said that he would adjourn the case to November 25th for hearing at Ennis District Court to allow both Ms Wynne and Mr Montaine be legally represented in court on the next occasion.
The rent arrears case was one of two cases concerning Ms Wynne on the court’s civil list today.
The second case concerned Ms Wynne owing a residual debt to an ex-employee, Fiona Smyth from an €11,500 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) award and it was before the court today for monitoring of payments being made.
Solicitor for Ms Smyth, Daragh Hassett said that payments are ongoing and Ms Wynne told Judge Harris that she wanted to reassure the court that the payments will continue to be made until the money is paid off in full. Judge Harris adjourned the case to next year to allow further monitoring.
Ms Wynne is paying off the debt by €50 per week and when the case was last before the court in April, Mr Hassett commented that the debt will not be paid off until 2028. The amount outstanding in April was €4,700 and no updated debt total was provided to court today.
Ms Wynne – who received a TD’s annual salary of €113,679 – lost her seat in the November 2024 General Election in Clare receiving only 310 first preference votes where she stood as an independent candidate in a vote collapse from her 2020 General Election vote when she topped the poll as a Sinn Fein candidate.
