A DONEGAL councillor has strongly refuted claims published in a local newspaper that he used the defective blocks scandal to gain voters in the recent local elections.
Newly elected councillor, Declan Meehan, who topped the poll in the Milford Electoral Area in June, has come under fire in the wake of the allegations.
Responding, Cllr Meehan has said that he thought, in good faith, that he was an “affected homeowner” when cracks began to show on his house.
However, following “comprehensive testing”, much to his shock it was discovered his home was of negligible risk of any deleterious materials and instead the cracks were “settling cracks”.
Taking to social media in a bid to clear his name and set the record straight, Cllr Meehan said: “Despite our initial belief since 2021 – supported by and based on an assessment of a qualified and experienced engineer – that our home was affected by defective blocks, recent comprehensive testing revealed negligible risk levels of any deleterious materials.
“This came as a shock to us and our engineer.
“The test was carried out in April of this year, and we received results on June 17th.
“I said during my campaign – and for the years preceding it – that I was an affected homeowner. This was based on a genuine belief that could only have come from the professional opinion of an engineer.
“I accept the viewpoint of some that I should have had a test conducted before the election to be certain of this, but the reason we did not do this was that we never for one second thought there was any chance that we didn’t have it.
“It was only when we needed a test that we had one carried out.
“Which is the same for anyone – people test their house when they need to, either to access the scheme or to sell.
“In the meantime, people only have the opinion of their engineers to base anything else on.
“In our case our cracks turned out to be standard settling cracks resulting from a house being erected on a built-up site.
“I recognise that there are some out there who voted for me based on a shared experience and understanding of living with defective blocks.
“I understand that some people may feel angry or disappointed because of this.
“It was never my intention to mislead them.
“I would never seek to diminish or disrespect the pain and stress experienced by people living with defective blocks in an effort to gain votes.
“I remain committed to fighting for those affected by defective blocks across this electoral area and this county, as I have been doing since I got elected in Council meetings and on the Defective Concrete Blocks Committee.
“My change in circumstances does not change my priorities.”
“I reject any insinuation or accusation that I knowingly and purposefully misled the public during the election campaign.
“I am committed to the principles and qualities of honesty, transparency and integrity and will continue to give the people of the Milford Electoral Area the best possible representation over the coming five years.”
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