By Róise Collins
THE devastating gusts of Storm Éowyn left defective concrete block homeowners across the county terrified, as it tore through their already crumbling homes.
In Malin Head, the gable wall of one house was ripped away, leaving a hole that was several meters in diameter and exposing the inside of the home to the unforgiving winds.
In Ballybofey, a window was smashed when a large chunk of plaster was blown from another defective concrete home.
In the wake of the storm similar stories also emerged from Letterkenny where plaster was blown from the exterior walls of a house and crashed into neighbouring property.
100% Redress Party TD Charles Ward said that with every storm, affected houses are becoming weaker and deteriorating at such a rate that these incidents will become a common occurrence.
“This is the start of it now. These houses have been affected for over 14 years, so we are going to be seeing this happening in multiples over the next five to ten years, if we don’t sort this out,” he said.
“It’s only a matter of time before somebody gets seriously injured or killed.
“There are over 5,000 homes in similar disrepair and the only thing holding them together is the plaster. When you take the plaster away what’s left is blocks pouring into the ground like dust,” he stressed.
Deputy Ward, whose home in Drumkeen is also affected by defective concrete blocks, braced this weekend’s storm at home.
“When you’re in a home that’s defective and there’s a storm like that hitting it, you’ll accept any damage. You don’t care, just as long as everybody is ok.
“It’s a terrible situation to have to be in but there are thousands of people in this situation when these storms happen.”
In the future Deputy Ward would like to see measures put in place for defective home owners in the event of severe weather.
Prior to the storm his party colleague, Cllr Joy Beard, pleaded with Donegal County Council to provide refuge for affected families during the red weather warning.
However, it wasn’t until the eleventh hour that the council stepped in with emergency accommodation, Deputy Ward pointed out.
“Going forward, as soon as there’s a red weather warning we’ve got to get stuff in place for people,” he said.
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