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Cash crisis 'led to police limbo' Threatened policeman 'in limbo'
(about 2 hours later)
Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie said lack of funds meant she could not help a police officer and his family forced from their home by a dissident threat.Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie said lack of funds meant she could not help a police officer and his family forced from their home by a dissident threat.
They had hoped to rely on the government's Sped scheme which buys property for people considered to be in danger. The officer applied to the government's Sped scheme, which buys property from people considered to be in danger.
But they have been told it has run out of cash. He said he had agreed a price of £250,000 with the Housing Executive for his house, but was later sent a letter saying the funds were not available.
The officer said he felt he had been "let down big time" by the minister.
"Margaret Ritchie recently launched a programme in Lurgan teaching children to manage money which, I think, is a joke considering her own organisation cannot manage their own money," he said.
"I don't think Ms Ritchie should be hiding behind the banner of the Department of Social Development.
"I think she should come forward and be accountable for her own mistakes and take responsibility."
Mrs Ritchie said she needed more money to help families in need and was pressing for funds.Mrs Ritchie said she needed more money to help families in need and was pressing for funds.
"I faced this year a major shortfall in my housing budget, right across all the pressures of that budget," Mrs Ritchie said. "I faced this year a major shortfall in my housing budget, right across all the pressures of that budget," she said.
"I am trying to the work the miracle of the loaves and fishes with a depleted housing budget."I am trying to the work the miracle of the loaves and fishes with a depleted housing budget.
"I have already written to the minister for finance about the Sped budget. I have told him that I see it as a priority and I have already bid for funds in this September's monitoring round." "I have already written to the minister for finance about the Sped budget.
"I have told him that I see it as a priority and I have already bid for funds in this September's monitoring round."
The police officer was told in March that he was a target of dissidents.The police officer was told in March that he was a target of dissidents.
He and his family moved immediately and were assured that they would qualify for assistance.He and his family moved immediately and were assured that they would qualify for assistance.
The Sped (Special Purchase of Evicted Dwellings) scheme, which is administered by the Housing Executive and the Department for Social Development has no funds left.The Sped (Special Purchase of Evicted Dwellings) scheme, which is administered by the Housing Executive and the Department for Social Development has no funds left.
I am trying to the work the miracle of the loaves and fishes with a depleted housing budget Margaret RitchieHousing MinisterI am trying to the work the miracle of the loaves and fishes with a depleted housing budget Margaret RitchieHousing Minister
The family have been living in rented accommodation paid for by the PSNI, while continuing to pay the mortgage on their former home.The family have been living in rented accommodation paid for by the PSNI, while continuing to pay the mortgage on their former home.
Their time in the rented property is about to end. They were about to sign the paperwork on a new home but that now has to be put on hold.Their time in the rented property is about to end. They were about to sign the paperwork on a new home but that now has to be put on hold.
In the intervening six months, the officer, who is in his his late 30s, has suffered a stroke, leaving him partially sighted In the intervening six months, the officer, who is in his his late 30s, has suffered a stroke, leaving him partially sighted.
The police officer's wife, who did not wish to be identified, said she feels her family have been treated "in an appalling manner".
"I feel that we have been abandoned to our fate," she said.
"Basically we have been shoved somewhere out of the road and nobody wants to take responsibility, nobody wants to help.
"It happened obviously because a terrorist organisation decided that they wanted to make an impact on our lives.
"But we just feel that the government have done exactly the same thing again and they are the one who are voted in to protect us.
"They have just devastated our lives in the the same way as the terrorist organisation, by threatening my husband's life, devastated it."
The Police Federation has written to the Security Minister Paul Goggins, urging him to resolve the issue.The Police Federation has written to the Security Minister Paul Goggins, urging him to resolve the issue.