Leanne Anderson (left) and Natasha Quinn are facing eviction from their Whitfield homes after a riot in the area in 2010.DC Thomson
Two women are to be evicted
from their Whitfield homes after claims of drug dealing and anti-social
behaviour in the area which culminated in a riot three years ago.Leanne Anderson, of Cardoness Walk, and Natasha
Quinn, of Roseburn Gardens, will be forced to leave their homes as a
result of Sheriff Collins’ findings after a civil action raised at
Dundee Sheriff Court by Angus Housing Association.Sheriff Collins has granted decree against the two after Angus Housing brought proceedings against a total of five women.
The sheriff dismissed the action taken against three other women — Lucy Bannon or Quinn, Torwood Place, Gillian Fraser, Torwood Place, and Wendy Hunter, now deceased — saying the association had not produced sufficient evidence against them.In his findings, Sheriff Collins said the housing association had seen the events of September 25 2010, rightly in his view, as the “culmination of simmering criminal rivalries between individuals residing in or visiting the Ormiston Crescent area”.Several people were arrested that day after what residents described as a “riot” in Ormiston Crescent, with rival factions said to have used an array of weapons, including knives, a crossbow, swords, a crowbar and a scabbard.
A car was also said to have been used during the disturbances, with a man apparently having been run over twice, according to residents. However no one has ever been convicted.Several people were then arrested and charged, some of whom subsequently appeared in court.Brothers Kevin (30) and Niki Hunter (29) were jailed after admitting an amended charge of breach of the peace.While granting decree against Leanne Anderson and Natasha Quinn, Sheriff Collins ruled the housing association had not provided sufficient evidence to evict the others.
However, he said because of the extreme violence used on the day of the riot, it was “likely that a number of witnesses who could have given further evidence regarding the events of September 25 2010, are now unwilling to do so”.“I accept that this is because of a fear of reprisals against them, their families and properties,” the sheriff added.In the case of Natasha Quinn, the sheriff ruled the association was right to believe Kevin Hunter was either a resident in her house or a very frequent visitor. He said there was evidence Niki Hunter, along with others, was a visitor to Quinn’s house on the day of the riot.
He stressed there was no suggestion, let alone evidence, that Quinn was responsible for any anti-social behaviour and it was not suggested she was anything other than a long-standing tenant with a good tenancy record.In Leanne Anderson’s case, the sheriff was satisfied Niki Hunter was living with her at Cardoness Walk. Again, it was not suggested, nor was there any evidence of, anti-social behaviour by Ms Anderson.Angus Housing Association director Bruce Forbes said: “We think the decision fully vindicates the action that we took.
“The sheriff’s findings in fact basically confirmed our case that effectively it was the result of an ongoing feud between two factions involved in drug dealing.“Granting us decree against the two clearly vindicates the action that we have taken and we accept that the sheriff’s assessment and judgment was fair and in the other three cases, the lack of first-hand evidence was a problem.
“But we always knew that would be the case, due to residents being in fear and trepidation of reprisals if they did come forward. This shows just how important it is that people go on the record and report anti-social behaviour and drug dealing if they want to stamp out that kind of thing.
“However, we can understand why that is an issue for many of them because they have to live there.”
The sheriff dismissed the action taken against three other women — Lucy Bannon or Quinn, Torwood Place, Gillian Fraser, Torwood Place, and Wendy Hunter, now deceased — saying the association had not produced sufficient evidence against them.In his findings, Sheriff Collins said the housing association had seen the events of September 25 2010, rightly in his view, as the “culmination of simmering criminal rivalries between individuals residing in or visiting the Ormiston Crescent area”.Several people were arrested that day after what residents described as a “riot” in Ormiston Crescent, with rival factions said to have used an array of weapons, including knives, a crossbow, swords, a crowbar and a scabbard.
A car was also said to have been used during the disturbances, with a man apparently having been run over twice, according to residents. However no one has ever been convicted.Several people were then arrested and charged, some of whom subsequently appeared in court.Brothers Kevin (30) and Niki Hunter (29) were jailed after admitting an amended charge of breach of the peace.While granting decree against Leanne Anderson and Natasha Quinn, Sheriff Collins ruled the housing association had not provided sufficient evidence to evict the others.
However, he said because of the extreme violence used on the day of the riot, it was “likely that a number of witnesses who could have given further evidence regarding the events of September 25 2010, are now unwilling to do so”.“I accept that this is because of a fear of reprisals against them, their families and properties,” the sheriff added.In the case of Natasha Quinn, the sheriff ruled the association was right to believe Kevin Hunter was either a resident in her house or a very frequent visitor. He said there was evidence Niki Hunter, along with others, was a visitor to Quinn’s house on the day of the riot.
He stressed there was no suggestion, let alone evidence, that Quinn was responsible for any anti-social behaviour and it was not suggested she was anything other than a long-standing tenant with a good tenancy record.In Leanne Anderson’s case, the sheriff was satisfied Niki Hunter was living with her at Cardoness Walk. Again, it was not suggested, nor was there any evidence of, anti-social behaviour by Ms Anderson.Angus Housing Association director Bruce Forbes said: “We think the decision fully vindicates the action that we took.
“The sheriff’s findings in fact basically confirmed our case that effectively it was the result of an ongoing feud between two factions involved in drug dealing.“Granting us decree against the two clearly vindicates the action that we have taken and we accept that the sheriff’s assessment and judgment was fair and in the other three cases, the lack of first-hand evidence was a problem.
“But we always knew that would be the case, due to residents being in fear and trepidation of reprisals if they did come forward. This shows just how important it is that people go on the record and report anti-social behaviour and drug dealing if they want to stamp out that kind of thing.
“However, we can understand why that is an issue for many of them because they have to live there.”
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