'Hounding' banks criticised

Banks which 'hound' borrowers in difficulties who do their best to make alternative arrangements have been criticised by Cllr Martin Heydon this week.

Speaking of the 'fear and desperation' under which some families are living, the FG Dail candidate for Kildare South said he is hearing 'heartbreaking' stories of the real life difficulties that ordinary people are living with on a day to day basis.

"These are stories that, apart from one-off Prime Time specials, very rarely hit the news headlines," Cllr Heydon said in his weekly newsletter. "While the banks are being bailed out by the State, they continue to hound on a daily basis unemployed and struggling families who are doing their best to cope, and manage scarce resources as best they can."

Cllr Heydon says the banks' need to be tough on defaulting borrowers can be understood, but there has to be some discretion for those who do their best.