Antievictions protest rally in Royal Courts, The Strand, London
Thursday 4 December 2008, 11.30 am
...Jean Sheridan, 24, is one of up to 400 people who could be turfed out of the illegal Dale Farm camp, at Crays Hill, if Basildon council wins the right to evict before Christmas. ...
I FEAR FOR MY UNBORN TRIPLETS IF I'M EVICTED
By Jon Austin, Echo newspaper 21 November
A TRAVELLER who is expecting triplets says she fears for her unborn children if she is forced out of her home.
Jean Sheridan, 24, is one of up to 400 people who could be turfed out of the illegal Dale Farm camp, at Crays Hill, if Basildon council wins the right to evict before Christmas.
Doctors have warned Mrs Sheridan, who already has a two-year-old daughter, may give birth to her three boys before the hearing in three weeks time. She said: "Can you imagine me with a toddler and three babies on a campsite, with no water or electric or proper doctors?
What if the children get sick?"
Mrs Sheridan is one of a number of new and expectant mums, some of whom have lived at the unauthorised site for more than five years, who plan to protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice, in London, on December 4.
She says the children, who she hopes to name Richard, John and David,could be premature and may need even more care as a result. Jean, who is 28 weeks into the pregnancy, was told by doctors she could give birth any time after 24 weeks.
She said: "They have told me my babies are coming early. They are going to need a lot of care and looking after. I don't need to be moved off now.
"This is the time I need to be in a firm place, so I can stay close to the hospital in case anything happens or the babies take a turn for the worse."
Regular prayers are being held for the triplets in St Christopher's Community Centre at Dale Farm, while Mrs Sheridan is treated at Kings College Hospital, London, and Basildon Hospital.
Campaigner Grattan Puxon said: "She has been advised by doctors to rest and keep to her bed to give her unborn babies the best chance. "Although the council has been notified of her condition, officials say there has been no changes in circumstances to give elected members an opportunity to reconsider eviction."
Council leader Malcolm Buckley said: "The advice from lawyers is there were no significant changes in circumstances. "There have always been young children and pregnant women on site.
"One could question if it is responsible to increase the size of a family when there are uncertainties over the future of someone's home."