A family in West Belfast was evicted from a Housing Executive bungalow on Clovelly Street off the Springfield Road on Tuesday morning. The eviction followed a County Court possession order granted in September 2024 to the Housing Executive.

Caitriona McCrudden had applied to succeed the tenancy after her mother died in September 2022. She acted as her mother's sole carer. The family includes Caitriona, her daughter Lisa and Lisa's two-year-old son.

Housing Executive guidelines permit a husband, wife, civil partner, or family member who lived in the property for over 12 months to take over a tenancy upon the tenant's death. The agency stated no evidence showed the occupants had a legal right to remain.

PSNI officers cordoned off the street during the eviction. Housing Executive officials oversaw the process as the family removed their belongings with a removal van present.

The Housing Executive described evictions as rare and a last resort to manage social housing stock. They prioritised the bungalow for older people or those with additional needs assessed through the social housing system.

The agency allowed a ten-week stay on enforcement after the court order, which expired on 26 November 2024. The occupants did not comply, attend a housing assessment or arrange alternative accommodation despite engagement with officials, legal and political representatives.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll criticised the eviction of the vulnerable family. He called the succession policy inhumane and said it led to homelessness for families in West Belfast after bereavements.