Mould forces Cork flood victim from home

A VICTIM of last November’s devastating flood in Cork city has been advised not to live in his house after the discovery of a potentially life-threatening mould.

Jim Hegarty, 58, who suffers from a respiratory condition, has been told by his GP that living in the house would be a “death sentence”. The mould has been attributed directly to dampness left by the flood which swamped Mr Hegarty’s Carrigrohane home with up to four feet of water.

The flood damage forced Jim to spend seven months in a caravan, but 10 months on he is one of 80 people still struggling with the long-term effects of the disaster.

“As far as officials are concerned, this crisis is over. They think we all got compensation and that we’re sorted. We didn’t and it’s not.

“I’m not a whinger, moaner or a beggar. I’m a survivor. There are people worse off than I am. If going public helps them, I’ll be happy.”

His plight came to light after his GP wrote to the Flood Committee which was set up by former Lord Mayor Cllr Dara Murphy to co-ordinate the relief effort. Mr Murphy said Jim is one of the flood’s many voiceless victims.

His comments came following criticism of Environment Minister John Gormley for turning down an invitation to meet, later this month, the Oireachtas Committee which examined last winter’s severe weather crisis.