Couple begin action over house ruined by gas leak

A COUPLE whose semi-detached home had to be demolished following a gas explosion in an adjoining house have begun an action for damages in the High Court.

The court was told that the scene after the blast was like that from a film depicting a bomb blast scene.

The case is being taken against five defendants by Thomas and Terry Lynch, a married couple with two children who resided at Cherrybrook Drive, Drogheda, Co Louth, at the time of the explosion on the afternoon of May 24, 2001.

The defendants, who deny liability, are Joseph and Bridget Farrell, next door neighbours of the Lynch family. The third named defendant is the manufacturer of gas regulators, OARA SRL, with registered offices at Via Averolda, Travaglianto, Italy. Seamus Burns, since deceased, who operated a limited liability company with registered offices at Dungooley, Dundalk, is the fourth and Hynes Interiors Limited, with offices at Bellurgan Road, Dundalk, is the fifth.

Counsel for the Lynch family, Jeremy Maher SC, said that it was agreed that the damage done to the house meant that it had to be demolished.

He said the aftermath was like a scene from a television film showing a scene of bomb devastation. He said the Farrells had a gas hob connected to a cylinder outside the house and it was alleged that due to a defect in the regulator attached to the cylinder, a considerable quantity of gas built up and ignited, causing devastation to the Lynch home and other nearby houses.

Terry Lynch was in her kitchen when the explosion occurred. She saw her patio door and window being blown out and immediately ran to the garden to rescue her two children.

Her daughter Tara had sustained an injury to her head and she found her son Aaron lying on the ground under rubble. She was extremely shocked and distressed. She and the two children were taken by ambulance to a hospital in Drogheda.

They were subsequently transferred to the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and discharged the next day.

Ms Lynch was referred for counselling which she underwent for a period of six months and remains under the regular review of her GP. The family decided to leave the area in 2004.

Mr Maher said that the five defendants denied liability, with each saying the other party was responsible.

After the sides were involved in negotiations outside the court yesterday Mr Justice Vivian Lavan was told that they were near a resolution. He adjourned the case until today.