Press Release

Successful prosecution of racist neighbour

April 2008

Homes for Islington, working with the Metropolitan Police, has seen a successful prosecution of an Islington resident for causing harassment.

Maureen McLaughlin has been convicted of racially aggravated harassment (non-violence) against a local family. Found guilty at Highbury Magistrates Court she has been sentenced to:

• 3 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months - which means if she commits any further offences in the next 18 months she will have to serve 3 months in prison.

• A restraining order to keep away from the family

• A supervision order for 12 months requiring her to have rehabilitation supervised by the probation service

Mrs McLaughlin had been warned at an early hearing about her behaviour and told that she must not make any racist comments/abuse in respect any members of her victim's family and that she must listen to her television, radio player and a karaoke machine on headphones following further allegation that arose during the trial.

HFI will now be taking action against her in regards to her tenancy.

Doug Goldring, HFI's Director of Operations said: "HFI take antisocial behaviour and crime very seriously. In case of harassment and racism we will work with the Police and other agencies to ensure our tenants are safe and those carrying out the harassment are prosecuted. This result sends and important message that we will not tolerate this kind of abuse of Islington tenants."

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact James Asser in the HFI communications team on 020 7527 4379 or email james.asser@homesforislington.org.uk

Notes to editors:

Homes for Islington, one of the UK's largest arms length management organisations (ALMO), which began operations in April 2004, is charged with managing council housing stock throughout the borough. It is owned by Islington Council and managed by a Board of Directors, made up of Islington tenants and leaseholders, council representatives and independent members.