Repercussions continue for KBC Bank and those who evicted Irish farming family

Gardaí (Irish: An Garda Síochána) the Irish police service, are investigating a suspected arson attack on a branch of the Belgian owned KBC Bank in Co Dublin yesterday morning. The front window had been smashed and the fire caused extensive damage to the ground floor of the building. This was the second arson attack on a KBC Bank in 48 hours. Yesterday protesters also occupied the lobby of the head office of KBC Bank in Dublin. This is the result of a controversial eviction of a farming family from their home in County Roscommon (Irish: Contae Ros Comáin).

An investigation is now also under way into the conduct of a group of men, working for KBC bank, who were brought in from the north of Ireland to carry out the eviction. The investigation is being undertaken by The Private Security Authority - PSA (Irish: An tÚdarás Slándála Prı́obháidı́) the independent statutory body in Ireland that regulates private security services. The McGann family were evicted from their home in Falsk last Wednesday week. Shocking  images of the eviction were posted on social media, leading to the reaction against KBC and the people they hired to evict the McGann's. The PSA investigation means the identity of the men, the company they work for, and the circumstances in which they were recruited will likely become public knowledge. KBC bank, who the men were working for, would also likely be asked to aid the inquiry.

The family are now back in their property after a large group of people supporting the family stormed the farm, beat the security guards, burned their vans and cars and forced them out of the house. Sinn Féin TD (an elected member of the Irish parliament) Maurice Quinlivan has told the Belgian-owned KBC bank that it will “not stand by” and see Irish people evicted from their homes. He said:

“What happened there was totally unacceptable; that masked people like that can go in and evict Irish people out of their homes. It’s absolutely simply not acceptable and we won’t stand for that." He went on to say Sinn Féin, had put “down a marker” for all banks and vulture funds “that anybody who tries to evict a family from their home against their wishes” will face a national protest campaign.