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Thousands of people are planning to hold a barbecue outside the home of a vegan who sued her neighbors for causing ‘undue offense’ to her by barbecuing.
Cilla Carden, from Perth, Western Australia, sought legal orders to make her neighbors reduce their patio lighting, ensure their companion animals stay quiet, and stop barbecuing fish.
‘Can’t enjoy it’
According to Carden, she couldn’t enjoy her backyard as a result of her neighbor’s habits, saying the smell was causing ‘undue offence’.
“They’ve put the barbecue there so I smell fish – all I can smell is fish. I can’t enjoy my backyard, I can’t go out there,” she told 9 News.
She added that she ‘respected the rights’ of meat eaters, but that her neighbors have caused ‘turmoil and unrest’, and that she hasn’t been able to sleep.
‘Unreasonable demands’
But a tribunal, followed by the state’s highest court, rejected Carden’s demands – saying they lacked evidence and were ‘unreasonable’.
“The Tribunal does not accept that the parents, by allowing their children to play in the backyard… use the patio for small scooters or toys, constitutes reasonably a nuisance,” said the Tribunal. “What they are doing is living in their backyard and their home as a family.
“They have not allowed the children out at night, have not used the patio at night, and have not turned on the lights for several months for fear of reprisals from the applicant.
Community BBQ
After the case was rejected by the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia in February, Carden lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court of Western Australia. This was rejected in July.
Since then, an event called ‘Community BBQ for Cilla Carden’ has been set up, with more than 2,000 people saying they will attend, and a further 7,500 people saying they are interested in attending.
“Cilla Carden has a problem with her neighbors cooking meat on their BBQ, because she’s a vegan. Recently taking them to the Supreme Court,” says the event.
“Don’t let Cilla destroy a good old Aussie tradition, join us for a community BBQ, and help Cilla Carden GET SOME PORK ON HER FORK.”
‘Criminal charges’
Carden’s lawyer, John Hammond, told Daily Mail Australia that anyone who goes to the event will face charges.
“Any person who seeks to attend Ms Carden’s property on Saturday, October 19, 2019, or at any other time in relation to this event or matter will be referred to the WA police on the grounds of trespass,” he added.
“Security cameras will be installed to obtain vision of any person attending the property and the vision will be provided to the police.”
