A traveller mother-of-seven who faced eviction from her Llanelli home has won her High Court battle against Carmarthenshire council.

The local authority has been told to reconsider Margaret Price's case after the court decided the council said it had failed to show sufficient respect to her way of life as an Irish traveller.

Being a traveller is a part of being free, it is the way we were brought up Margaret Price

Mr Justice Newman said attempts to make the family leave their three caravans in Prince Charles Gardens amounted to "an interference with their private and family lives in breach of article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights."

Ms Price, who did not travel to London for the case said she was "over the moon" with the decision announced on Friday.

She said: "I'm excited, I've waited a long time for it.

"I wouldn't move from caravans, it's a life I was born into and my older children feel the same.

"I am thrilled. I knew I had some kind of a case, I knew the council had wronged me.

"Even though I am a sick woman I wouldn't even want a mansion.

"Being a traveller is a part of being free, it is the way we were brought up," she added.

Housing rejected

The case was heard in December and Mr Justice Newman reserved his judgement until 24 Janaury.

During the hearing, Ms Price's barrister Stephen Knafler said his client had spent the last few years in Carmarthen, caring for the elderly and her sick mother, and moved from site to site.

The court heard that Ms Price had turned down the council's offers of housing.

A previous court hearing was told Ms Price had applied for housing assistance for her and her two adult children as well as others aged 16, 12, four and one year of age.

But Mr Knafler said Ms Price was "unable to bring herself to take up this offer, because it was of settled accommodation in a house, which she abhors on account of being a traveller".

Mr Justice Newman was told there was no site - council, private or otherwise to cater for the family.

He was told the family was not causing any kind of nuisance and if they left, it would not protect the rights of others.

Council's response

Carmarthenshire's head of public protection Philip Davies said: "The Judge indicated that, for the most part, the council's decision-making process was careful and conscientious.

"The Judge has told us to look at two particular issues again and not to evict Ms Price from Prince Charles Gardens until we have done so.

"The Judge did not say that Ms Price should be allowed to stay at the location indefinitely or that we could not seek to evict her in the future.

"We are working through the judgement at the moment and will decide on an appropriate course of action over the next few days."