SINN FEIN has blamed Irish government policies giving free rein to banks and “vulture funds” for violent forced evictions such as last Tuesday’s in Roscommon.

MEP Matt Carthy warned today that the government must shift its priorities from the wishes of financial institutions to one that supports communities.

He condemned the forced eviction of a family in Strokestown, Roscommon, which led to further violent clashes at the weekend between protesters and a private security company hired by the KBC bank to hold the property. A number of vehicles were set alight and three people required hospital treatment.

Mr Carthy called on the Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan to clarify the role of the police in these situations, accusing gardai of “standing watch” while clear acts of assault were taking place.

“The scenes of brutality meted out by black-clad, nameless security men on two Roscommon natives on behalf of KCB bank on Tuesday is an outrage to most Irish people.  It recalls the days of violent evictions during the famine in this area, which has a long and storied folk memory,” he said.

“That a local family were subjected to a terrifying ordeal of thuggery from a group of men acting on behalf of a financial institution will be worrying to all right-thinking people. The allegations that some of those involved in the evictions have links to loyalist paramilitaries are deeply troubling.”

He blasted the “inherent unfairness” of banks selling loans to vulture funds while failing to protect families and help them remain in their homes. “It is this situation, overseen by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, that has resulted in such revulsion at the events in Roscommon and such a large outpouring of solidarity with those families faced with the bully-boy tactics of the banks and their hireling thugs,” Mr Carthy said.