Thanks to an online petition & media-coverage pressure, a bank won’t be turning a deaf-mute couple out of their house, where they have lived for the last 50 years.

Bankia, which had to be bailed out by the State with a loan from Europe, by the way, was all set to evict the couple, whose story is one of betrayal and mindless bureaucracy.

Not only are the couple, deaf-mutes, but they are also illiterate, which is why the bank finally relented over the contract terms – after all, the couple couldn’t read what they were signing and there was no sign-language interpreter present during the signing.

In fact, not only did the bank cancel the eviction request, but they also cancelled the outstanding debt – in its place the bank will accept a symbolic rent.

The said debt was for 101,000 euros that 76 Antonio Pleguzuelo and 81-year-old María del Carmen Lebrón were unable to pay and were to lose their 60-sq/m flat over.

Their son, little Gregario (37) had convinced them to accompany him to the Public Notary back in 2005 where they unwittingly put their names down as guarantors for his loan; a loan that he never paid back.

Since then Gregario has appeared before the TV cameras to make a public apology and express his deep regret.

But what about the Public Notary, whose job it is to ensure that the signatories of an official document know what they are signing? There had been a sign-language interpreter at the notary’s office but he was not used as the couple have never learnt this form of communication.

So, there was the Notary putting his name to a statement which assured that he had read it aloud to the signatories and they had given their acknowledgement that they had understood. How, exactly?

Oh, and the couple have forgiven their son, Gregorio, bless their cotton socks!

(News: Madrid)