Class Inequalities.

 Dear Mr. McGrath Minister for Disabilities

I would be grateful if you could follow this complaint up that we have made to Dublin City Council Darndale Offices. The attached letter and email are self explanatory. The allegations made against our vulnerable and profoundly deaf son are completely untrue. 

with kindest regards,

Patrick O'Connell Snr

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Enver Këqiku <paddoconnell@gmail.com>

Date: Mon, May 16, 2016 at 9:04 PM

Subject: Formal Complaint

To: customerservices@dublincity.ie

To whom it may concern,

I wish to make a formal complaint after receiving verbal abuse and subsequently being "cut off" a phone call today (16/05/2016) with Ms. Martina McHugh, Project Estate officer in your service. 

I made telephone contact with Ms. McHugh following a letter that was posted to my vulnerable Son Patrick O'Connell ref: 1968780/16. 

My son Patrick is profoundly deaf, has significant literacy difficulties, mental health difficulties and is socially isolated. All correspondence patrick receives he brings to us his parents for support and advocacy. On foot of the letter received dated 12/05/2016 alleging that he had dumped a black sofa and was feeding rats in the complex, the letter claimed that he was in breach of his tenancy agreement referencing "nuisance, annoyance or disturbance". I contacted Ms. McHugh to explain firstly that it was not a black sofa it was a wine sofa 3 seats and wine one seater (which we have photographic evidence of) outside his apartment which Patrick has never owned. Secondly I asked my son if he had ever put food out to feed the birds etc, he assured me that he has not. 

When I attempted to explain the reason for my call to Ms. McHugh she rudely assured me that she was aware of my sons disability and would not speak further to me about my sons situation and the content of the letter. I acknowledged that this was not a problem but advised that she would require a sign language interpreter to facilitate and support a meeting with Patrick. At this point Ms McHugh in a negative tone commented "can you not do it!"  at which point i asked would this not be a conflict of interest considering her previous statement that she would not discuss the matter with me?. If Ms. McHugh was aware of my sons level of disability and her letter emphasised the seriousness of the complaint which could result in the serving of a tenancy warning or the initiation of legal proceedings she would have considered the need for an advocate and an interpretor to provide Patrick with a fair and just opportunity to represent his point of view. 

Ms McHugh's voice, demeanor and attitude were extremely hostile and disrespectful, she would not give me the opportunity to speak and shouted over me, finally cutting me off by hanging up the phone. 

my son has lived at his DCC property for the past 10 years and has never come to the attention of the council for any difficulties. God help anyone who hasn't got a voice in society if the attitude of Ms. McHugh is all they have, they would be like a candle in the wind. 

I will be sending a copy of this complaint to the new minister for disability and other relevant people as i quite honestly feel both disgusted and upset. DCC pride themselves on their fair and equal policies, some good manners and a course in telephone skills seem to be lacking in some of its staff.

I spoke to individuals in fingal county council and she put me on to city hall council, these two individuals were extremely helpful and restored my confidence in humanity. 

I look forward to hearing from you in dealing with this significant issue. 

kind regards 

Brenda O'Connell (mother) and Patrick O'Connell (Father)

12 Briarfield Grove

Kilbarrack

Dublin 5