Glasgow grandmother faces Commonwealth Games eviction

Mrs Jaconelli has until Thursday to leave her home

A Glasgow grandmother is facing eviction from her home of 34 years to make way for the Commonwealth Games.

The flat where Margaret Jaconelli lives in Dalmarnock is in an area earmarked for the athletes village.

Glasgow City Council was previously granted a compulsory purchase order for the house for £30,000.

After Mrs Jaconelli refused, the authority raised a civil action at Glasgow Sheriff Court and were given permission to evict her by Thursday.

The court heard how Mrs Jaconelli's flat was one of several homes subject to compulsory purchase orders.

She is now the only remaining resident and has been living in an empty tower block for some time.

In a statement she read to the court, she said: "We're being told that properties are being pulled down for regeneration but it's more like degeneration.

"Communities have disappeared and friendships have been lost by the council pulling down large parts of the east end so that it is now reminiscent of Beirut."

Mrs Jaconelli said she was the "sole survivor of a council policy to raze Dalmarnock to the ground".

The grandmother added: "I'm just a wee person from the east end of Glasgow and all I'm doing is fighting for a home that my husband has worked hard for for 34 years.

"They're stealing my property after us working so hard for it."

Mrs Jaconelli added that she would have difficulty buying her family a "tent or an outside toilet" with the £30,000 the council are giving her as compensation.

Advocate Gerry Moynihan, representing Glasgow City Council, told the court that Mrs Jaconelli could appeal the compensation through the lands tribunal if she felt that it was not enough.

No rent

But the advocate added that the law states that the dispute over compensation should not stop the compulsory purchase or Mrs Jaconelli's eviction.

Mr Moynihan also said the council had offered Mrs Jaconelli and her family alternative accommodation but she had rejected their offers.

Mrs Jaconelli responded that the properties which were offered were too far away from Dalmarnock and the rent was too expensive. She currently owns her property and has no rent to pay.

Sheriff Richard McFarlane QC told Mrs Jaconelli that he recognised the seriousness of the case and the consequences she faced but was bound by the law.

The sheriff granted the council permission to evict her within two days time.