‘Human waste flooded into our home’
RESIDENTS in Limerick city, left homeless on Saturday after a water mains burst and flooded their properties, last night said they don’t know when they will be able to move back into their houses.
Despite Irish Water stating they did ‘not find any evidence of sewage contamination in any of the effected properties’, residents claimed human waste from sewers was carried into their homes.
Niamh Counihan, who was forced to leave her home with her partner and their eight week old daughter Liadh, said: ‘We could see toilet paper floating down the road; nappies, faeces every-where. We were walking in it out on the road.’
She added: ‘We’re sorted for accommodation in hotels tonight and tomorrow. After that I don’t know.’
Residents claim most of the filth was cleaned up before representatives from Irish Water arrived on scene.
Cristopher Counihan, of Bengal Terrace, had to evacuate his seriously ill mother after the floodwater left her stranded in her bed.
Mr Counihan’s mother Mary, 72, who has cancer, was transferred to St Camillus Hospital after Limerick city council stepped in to help find accommodation.
‘My mum sleeps in a hospital bed downstairs. When I heard the dog barking I ran downstairs in my bare feet and plunged into a load of water,’ Mr Counihan said.
‘When I opened the door at 3am, the water gushed in on top of me. I was in a state of shock for about ten minutes; I just didn’t know what to do. I was so worried about electricity and everything else.’
Mr Counihan also claimed the floodwater contained sewage. ‘Of course sewage came in. I can smell it in the house.’
Irish Water said yesterday: ‘Investigations carried out did not find any evidence of sewage contamination in any of the affected properties and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure there is no threat to public health.’